By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
After three years of trying, Niles' golfer Ben Landgraf qualified for the state finals Friday. Landgraf shot a two-over-par 74 at the Division 2, Regional 9 tournament at Stonehedge North in Richland to make the cut.
Landgraf missed the state finals by one-stroke last year. He said qualifying this year gives him a sense of redemption.
Landgraf's score placed him fifth individually at the regional. Medalist was Trevor Mathiak of host Gull Lake, who shot a one-under 71.
As a team, Niles finished seventh with a score of 328. Gull Lake won the regional on its home course with a score of 300.
For Niles, D.J. Wolnick shot an 83, Alex Welch 84, Scott Majerek 87 and Jeff Jurgonski 88.
Landgraf will play in the first round of the state finals Friday at The Meadows, the home course of Grand Valley College near Grand Rapids. If his score is good enough to make the cut, he will play in the final round on Saturday, Oct. 16.
At Hampshire Country Club in Dowagiac, Buchanan shot 375 to finish 11th in the Division 3 regional. Brandywine finished 15th with a score of 391.
Buchanan's Nathan Layher, who also missed state by one stroke last year, finished four-strokes away from the finals this season, shooting an 84. Matt Adams shot a 94, Jeremy Bachman 95, Andrew Colip 102 and Scott Lolmaugh 105.