Men’s golf team inches closer to MIAA championship

The Olivet College men's golf team took one step closer to securing its first Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) championship since 2002 with a first-place finish today at the league's seventh (out of eight) jamboree. Calvin hosted the outing at the Watermark Country Club in Grand Rapids.

The Comets posted a 307 team score to beat Albion by one stroke. Hope was third at 311, followed by Calvin and Trine in a tie for fourth with 312s. Adrian was sixth at 314, Kalamazoo was seventh at 320 and Alma was eighth at 339. In addition, Olivet matched a MIAA single-season record with its sixth first-place performance of the year. Olivet in 1997 and Hope in 2002 also achieved the feat.

Individually, freshman Drew Lasky (Marshall) tied for second-place with a 74. Senior Justin Lesansky (LaSalle, Ontario/International) was part of a three-way tie for eighth-place with a 76. Senior Brock Gleadall (Stratford, Ontario/St. Michael's Catholic) shot a 77. Sophomore Nick Harless (DeWitt) and senior Eric Ross (Burlington, Ontario/International) each finished with an 80.

Entering the final MIAA jamboree Thursday at Milham Park Golf Course in Kalamazoo, the Comets lead Hope by 27 strokes, 2,083-2,110. Trine is third at 2,120, followed by Albion (2,155), Calvin (2,184), Adrian (2,222), Kalamazoo (2,225) and Alma (2,255).

The 2008 MIAA champion will receive an automatic berth to the 2009 NCAA Division III National Men's Golf Championships next May at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.