Golfers dominate the course

THE CHAMP — Reigning
MIAA Division III champion Josh Gibson continues to
perform for Hope golf and has led the way for the team with a record-breaking season and consistent play. (Hope College)

Hope College men’s and women’s golf have posted multiple stellar performances so far this season, and this past weekend was no exception.

The women’s team headed to Lenawee Country Club in Adrian on Saturday for this year’s MIAA Jamboree Tournament. The Dutch claimed second place at the tournament with an overall team score of 346, just 22 strokes behind the champions from Saint Marys. Three different golfers for the Dutch finished in the top-ten for the tournament: Megan Klintworth (’18) and Jordyn Rioux (’21) both posted scores of 81 to tie for fifth place overall, and Abby Meder (’21) shot an 86 to place tenth. Klintworth would also win MIAA golfer of the week honors following her performance at Adrian.

Hope men’s golf also had a highly successful weekend. The Dutchmen participated in the Milikin Invitational on Sept. 30 in Decatur, Illinois, where they picked up a first-place finish. Josh Gibson (’19), the defending national champion for Division III, led the way for Hope with an exemplary eight- under-par score of 64 in his final round of play. Kade Hoeksema (’18), added a fifth-place finish. Overall, the Dutchmen posted 36-hole total of 584 to claim the victory by seven strokes over the 16-team field.

The Dutchmen placed second at the MIAA Jamboree at the Kalamazoo Country Club on Oct. 2., finishing just one stroke behind rival Calvin College with a score of 300.

The Dutch and the Dutchmen golf squads will take on their respective MIAA Championships next. The women will take the course this coming Friday through Saturday at Bedford Valley Golf Club in Battle Creek, while the men will tee off Friday, Oct. 13 and Saturday, Oct. 14 at the Battle Creek Country Club. Good luck to both teams!