By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
All season long, senior Nathan Layher has been the captain and leader of Buchanan's golf team. But, as coach Jim Brohman said, he's been much more.
Layher was a big reason the Bucks finished third in the Lakeland Conference this season. Last week, however, he put on one of his best performances of the year, winning co-medalist honors at the conference championship meet.
He shot an 18-hole 82 that day to take medalist honors at the conference finals for the second straight year. His performance earned him the Niles Daily Star Athlete of the Week for Sept. 26-Oct. 2.
As the conference season ended, Layher was second in the Lakeland in average strokes per round. His average of 40.2 was less than one stroke behind leader James Bradshaw of Coloma.
Layher won medalist honors three times this season, including the Cassopolis Jamboree Sept. 2 where he shot a season-low 37.
Brohman said Layher's constant hard work is what makes the senior so successful.
Buchanan plays regionals Friday at Hampshire Golf Club in Dowagiac. Layher said at the beginning of the season his goal was to make the state finals. He missed qualifying for state by one stroke last year.