Rangers third at Niles Open

Published 9:50 pm Thursday, April 19, 2012

Cassopolis’ Blaise Suseland tees off at Orchard Hills Country Club. The Rangers finished third at the Niles Open. (Vigilant/Argus Photo/SCOTT NOVAK)

NILES — The conditions weren’t perfect and neither were most of the scores.

Niles, Brandywine and Cassopolis opened up their seasons at the Niles Open held at Orchard Hills Country Club Wednesday afternoon.

The Vikings edged Dowagiac, which already had a match under its belt, 188-189. Cassopolis was third with a 197 and Brandywine fourth with a 215.

The Chieftains’ Jordan Juday did take home medalist honors after shooting a 42.

Niles first-year coach Dan Brawley was pleased with how his golfers competed in their first match of the season.

“For the conditions we played OK,” he said. “I think we can play better than that. We had a freshman come out here and contribute as a fourth guy. We have three solid golfers. We just need somebody else step up and shoot in the 40s. We used a freshman’s 54 today. We are going to need someone else to shoot in the 40s.”

Sam Clark led the Vikings with a 43. The freshman Brawley was speaking of was Spencer Fuller.

Dowagiac coach Van Johnson was not impressed with the scoring Wednesday.

“Basically I haven’t seen scores this bad in 10 years,” he said. “From all the schools. It has been at least 10 years since we put up numbers like that. It’s not the course; it’s course management. We have got to do a better job with our course management.”

Blaise Suseland led the Rangers with a 45, while Alec DeJonge turned in a 48 for the Bobcats.

Niles Open

At Orchard Hills CC

Par 35

Medalist

Jordan Juday, Dowagiac – 42

Team scores

Niles 188, Dowagiac 189, Cassopolis 197, Brandywine 215

Team results

Niles 188

John Schrader 44, Jared Langmeyer 47, Sam Clark 43, Ryan Clutter 58, Josh Bell 61, Spencer Fuller 54

Dowagiac 189

Jordan Juday 42, Cody Fairleigh 48, Andrew Wild 49, Jon Robinson 50, Christian Hess 51, Jordan Hagemann 54

Cassopolis 197

Blaise Suseland 45, Tim Coates 49, Gavin Francis 49, Brandon Polmateer 54, Brandon James 62

Brandywine 215

Alec DeJonge 48, Chance Smith 50, Trent Moskwinski 53, Jake Fiero 56, Ty Cheney 78, Chad Brooks 62