The Calvin men’s golf team started their season off strong, earning a fifth-place ranking overall at the opening MIAA Jamboree with a team score of 324.

On Thursday, Sept. 5, the Knights traveled to the Medalist Golf Club for the start of their fall campaign. Calvin finished one stroke ahead of sixth place team Kalamazoo and two strokes behind fourth place host team Albion. Hope took first place team honors with a score of 317.

Junior James Van Noord led the Knights, recording a score of 74 that landed him a tie for second place individually.

Senior Jake Hoogstrate was next for Calvin with a personal score of 77, tying for eighth place individually. Senior Mark Allen had an 84, with sophomore Justin Crow and freshman Brad Smith rounding out Calvin’s finishers with scores of 89 and 91. Alma’s Marty Predmesky was the individual leader with a score of 71.

Despite a fifth-place finish not being everything the team was hoping for, the team is still very close to the leading teams as they sit only seven strokes back from Hope. Allen shot a 74 earlier this year at the Olivet College Lou Collins Invitational. When he returns to that form, a MIAA title should still be within reach.

The Calvin men come back to action on Friday, Sept. 13, where they compete at another MIAA Jamboree, hosted by Adrian at the Lenawee Country Club.