The men’s golf team hosted the seventh MIAA Jamboree at Watermark Country Club. The Knights took third with 311 strokes, behind Hope with 299 and Trine with 310.

Senior Dave Sarkipato shot a round of 75, on the par-72 course, to lead the Knights. That was good for fifth place individually. Junior Jake Hoogstrate and sophomore James VanNoord shot rounds of 77 strokes and tied for 10th. Senior Ben Kuiper and junior Mark Allen had rounds of 82.

Another top ten finisher was junior Ross Ryzenga who took eighth individually with a round of 76. Ryzenga did not compete in the team competition.

“Our performance on Monday was not our best of the season, but fortunately we held onto first place, and we are eager to improve on our performance at the Medalist next Tuesday,” stated head coach Brian Bolt.

“On Monday at Watermark, senior Dave Sarkipato performed very well, and James Van Noord has been steady for us all year,” he continued. “Jake Hoogstrate also had a steady round. Unfortunately Ben Kuiper, our best golfer, had an off day. However, we are ready to go for next week.”

Bolt continued, “With a strong performance we will meet our goal of winning the MIAA and taking the top seed for the spring NCAA tournament qualifier.”

The Knights compete again on Tuesday at the MIAA Final at Albion’s Medalist Golf Club.

The winner of the MIAA takes the league’s regular season championship. They will also host two out of the three 18-hole rounds for the MIAA’s 54-hole spring tournament. This tournament decides the automatic qualifier to the NCAA D-III Tournament.

The Knights are in first in the MIAA with 2122 strokes. Hope is in second, 15 strokes behind Calvin at 2137 and Trine is close behind with 2141.

The jamboree on Tuesday is the last jamboree of the regular season.