NIACC places 8th at Clarke Fall Invitational

GALENA, Ill. - The NIACC men's golf team opened its fall season by shooting a 331 at the Clarke University Fall Invitational on Thursday at Eagle Ridge Golf Course.

NIACC was led by sophomore Bryce Malchow and freshman Tim Castle with a pair of 81 and sophomore Kai Nelles shot 83.

NIACC placed eighth with its 331. Iowa Central was the team champion with a 304 and Black Hawk College was second with a 313. 

"The General (Eagle Ridge Golf Course) put us through a basic training course (Thursday)," NIACC coach Chris Frenz said. "I saw a lot of good things (Thursday), though.

"Obviously, we're not real pleased with our scores, but to see Kai Nelles come back and shoot a 36 after a brutal 47 on the front was great. Bryce Malchow is a steady player and really played better than his score indicated, but it is what the score says it is."

Castle, who prepped at Newman Catholic, was six-over after two holes and shot a 43 on the front. Castle shot a 38 on the back nine for his total of 81 in his first collegiate meet.

Freshman Jackson Koebernick shot 86 and freshman Ryan Berkley shot 88.

"Ryan Berkley had it going on the front nine but hit an errant shot on nine that kind of set the tone for the back," Frenz said. "Jackson Koebernick will be a steady player for us."

The NIACC B team placed 15th with a 372. Anders Palmquist shot a 89, Mitchell Staudt shot a 92, Elic Fjetland shot a 95 and Bennett Suntken shot a 96.

NIACC returns to action Sept. 8 at the NIACC Invitational at the Mason City Country Club.

"We're a young team," Frenz said. "We'll learn from (Thursday) and continue to get better each day."

Team standings - Iowa Central 304, Black Hawk College 313, Clarke University 315, Highland CC 315, Hawkeye CC 317, Bryant & Stratton CC 322, Viterbo University 324, NIACC 331, Hawkeye CC B 336, Augustana College 339, Clarke University B 349, Dubuque University B 351, Southeastern CC 362, Marian University 369, NIACC B 372, Southwest Tech 382, Governors State University 393.