By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Niles jumped out to the lead in the Big 16 Conference West Division golf race on Monday by capturing the opening jamboree at Hampshire Country Club.
The Vikings won by six strokes over Lakeshore with St. Joseph finishing third and host Dowagiac fourth.
Niles, led by medalist Jeff Jurgonski's 36, finished with a team total of 156.
Lakeshore was second with a score of 162, with St. Joseph third with a score of 168. Dowagiac finished with a 170 and Benton Harbor was fifth with a 255.
Niles also got a 38 from Chris Haas, a 40 from Alex Welch and a pair of 42s from Scott Majerek and Nick Horn. D.J. Wolnick rounded out the Vikings' six golfers on Monday with a 44.
Lakeshore was led by a trio of 40s. Shooting identical scores for the Lancers were CJ Wright, Justin Stevens and Nick Stama.
Jeff Ott finished with a 42. Lakeshore also got 43s from Tom Valha and Scott Bitterman.
Jake Pallas led St. Joseph with a 40. Eric Robbins shot 42 with Eric Mejeur and Zach McDonnell both shooting 43.
Dowagiac played Monday's match without senior Adam Carlson, who has been lost indefinitely after breaking his arm water skiing.
Nick Krizinski led the Chieftains at Hampshire with a 38. Zack Russom finished with a 42, while Kevin Proshwitz shot 43. Dowagiac also got a 47 from Jeremy Shank and a 50 from Richie Hutchinson. Mike Hoff shot 56.
Big 16 Conference
West Division Jamboree
at Hampshire Country Club
Niles…156
Jeff Jurgonski 36
Chris Haas 38
Alex Welch 40
Nick Horn 42
Scott Majerek 42
D.J. Wolnick 44
Lakeshore…162
CJ Wright 40
Justin Stevens 40
Nick Stama 40
Jeff Ott 42
Tom Valha 43
Sam Bitterman 43
St. Joseph…168
Jake Pallas 40
Eric Robbins 42
Eric Mejeur 43
Zach McDonnell 43
Adam Waite 48
Phil Yskes 49
Dowagiac…170
Nick Krizinski 38
Zack Russom 42
Kevin Proshwitz 43
Jeremy Shank 47
Richie Hutchinson 50
Mike Hoff 56
Benton Harbor…255
William 48
J. Robinson 59
C. Bell 75
G. Tavaris 75