2008 FALL SEASON

The Flying Dutchmen finished second in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) standings. Junior Steven Strock of Grandville, Mich.(Grandville HS) won MIAA medalist honors, bringing the recognition to a Hope golfer for the tenth time in the last 11 years.

Strock finished three strokes ahead of league runnerup Mark McLaughlin of Albion. He averaged 73.0 strokes over the league's eight tournaments. It was the fourth best seasonal average by a Hope golfer since the tournament format started in 1978.

Olivet captured the seasonal team championship, finishing 35 strokes ahead of the Flying Dutchmen. It ended Hope string of five straight titles. The Comets ended at 2,395 strokes followed by Hope 2,420, Trine 2,425, Albion 2,465, Calvin 2,513, Adrian 2,536, Kalamazoo 2,556, and Alma 2,586.

Nick Campbell, a freshman from Saline, Mich. (Saline HS) achieved All-MIAA second team recognition. He finished 10th in the seasonal player standings with an average of 76.6 strokes.

The seasonal averages of other Hope golfers were Don (DJ) Scholten (senior from Grand Rapids/GR Christian HS) 78.0, and Don Kring (senior from Williamsburg/St. Francis HS) 78.0.

MIAA TOURNAMENTS IN REVIEW

MIAA Jamboree -- at Buck Run GC, September 6
The Flying Dutchmen finished third in the season-opening conference jamboree at Alma's Buck Run golf course. Olivet took top honors at 293 strokes while Albion was second at 300. Hope and Trine tied for third place at 303 strokes followed by Calvin 311, Adrian 313, Alma 324, and Kalamazoo 325. The medalist was Mark McLaughlin of Albion with a 69. Leading Hope was Steve Strock at 73 followed by D.J. Scholten 76, Nick Campbell 76, Andy Thompson 78 and Don Kring 81.

MIAA Jamboree -- at Bedford Valley CC, September 10
The Flying Dutchmen finished second in the conference jamboree at the Bedford Valley country club in Marshall. Host Olivet maintained its lead in the seasonal standings by winning the jamboree. The Comets finished with a four-player total over the 18-hole round of 298 strokes, followed by Hope 303, Trine 304, Calvin 309, Albion 310, Kalamazoo 315, Alma 317 and Adrian 323. The jamboree medalist for the second straight tournament was Mark McLaughlin of Albion at 34-388--72. Sharing honors for Hope at 75 strokes were junior Steven Strock (37-38--75) and senior Donald Kring (38-37--75). Next were freshman Nick Campbell, 40-36--76; senior Don Scholten, 39-38--77; and sophomore Chris Ansel, 40-41--81.

MIAA Jamboree -- at The Medalist GC, September 16
The Flying Dutchmen maintained their second place position in the MIAA race by finishing runnerup in the season's third conference jamboree at The Medalist golf course. Olivet won its third consecutive tournament finishing ahead of the Flying Dutchmen, 310-313 strokes. Next were Trine and Calvin at 32l each, Kalamazoo 326, host Albion 328, Alma 334 and Adrian 336. The tournament medalist was Drew Lasky of Olivet with a one-under par 71. Leading Hope was Steven Strock at 36-39--75 followed by Nick Campbell 37-40--77, Andy Thomson 40-40--80, Don Scholten 40-41--81, and Don Kring 43-41--84.

MIAA Jamboree -- at Lenawee CC, September 20
The Flying Dutchmen finished third in the season's fourth MIAA jamboree, but remain in second place in the seasonal standings midway through the conference season. League-leading Olivet won the jamboree played at the Lenawee Country Club in Adrian at 291 strokes, followed by Trine 292, Hope 296, Albion 302, Alma 309, Calvin 311, Kalamazoo 313, and Adrian 319. Medalist honors were shared by Shawn Floyd of Trine, Eric Ross of Olivet and Brian Rabedioux of Alma at 70 strokes. Leading Hope were Steve Strock and Don Kring at 73 strokes each followed by Chris Ansel 74, Nick Campbell 76, and Don Scholten 77.

MIAA Jamboree -- at Zollner GC, September 27
The Flying Dutchmen finished second in the season's fifth conference jamboree to maintain their hold on second place overall. Junior Steve Strock captured medalist honors over the Zollner course tying the league course record of 68 strokes. Host Trine won the tournament at 291 strokes followed by Hope 292, Olivet 293, Albion 307, Alma 309, Calvin 309, Adrian 310 and Kalamazoo 311. Scores of other Hope golfers were Nick Campbell 71, Don Kring 76, DJ Scholten 77 and Chris Ansel 77.

MIAA Jamboree -- at Wuskowhan PC, September 29
The Flying Dutchmen stayed right on the heels of league-leading Olivet in the MIAA race, but time is running out on the defending league champions. Olivet won its fifth conference jamboree, edging the Flying Dutchmen by a single stroke on Hope's home course. The Comets edged the Dutchmen 292-291 on a rainy afternoon at the Wuskowhan Players Club. With just two tournaments remaining, Olivet leads Hope by 23 strokes. Hope junior Steve Strock had his second consecutive sub-par round to tie for medalist honors with Trine's Shawn Floyd at 69 strokes. Strock has taken sole possession of first place in the seasonal player standings with an average of 72.2 strokes per 18-hole round. He is four strokes ahead of runnerup Drew Lasky of Olivet. Trailing Olivet and Hope in Monday's tournament were Trine 297, Albion 300, Adrian 310, Calvin 311, Kalamazoo 315 and Alma 323. Scores of other Hope golfers were sophomore Chris Ansel 73, senior DJ Scholten 75, senior Don Kring 75 and freshman Nick Campbell 77.

MIAA Jamboree -- at Watermark GC, October 6
Olivet moved a step closer to dethroning Hope as MIAA champion by winning the season's seventh conference jamboree, but the race to be league medalist is going to go down to the final round. The four-time defending champion Flying Dutchmen remain in second place in the seasonal standings 27 strokes behind Olivet. Hope junior Steven Strock tops the player standings, but he is only three strokes ahead of challengers Drew Lasky of Olivet and Mark McLaughlin of Albion, 508-511. The tournament was won by Olivet at 307 strokes. Albion placed second at 308, followed by Hope 311, Calvin 312, Trine 312, Adrian 314, Kalamazoo 320, and Alma 339.

MIAA Jamboree -- at Milham GC, October 9
Trine won the season-ending jamboree at 305 strokes while Hope and Albion tied for second at 310 followed by Olivet 312, Adrian 314, Calvin 329, Kalamazoo 331, and Alma 331. The medalist was Brock Gleadall of Olivet at 70 strokes. Sophomore Chris Ansel led Hope at 74 strokes followed by Steve Strock 76, Don (DJ) Scholten 80, Don Kring 80 and Nick Campbell 83.

NON-LEAGUE TOURNAMENTS

Dutchmen Seventh at Season-Opening Tourney (8/30/08)
The Flying Dutchmen finished seventh in the season-opening Lou Collins Classic played Friday and Saturday at the Bedford Valley country club. Host Olivet won the 36-hole competition at 588 strokes. Hope's "A" carded a 615. Hope's "B" team was ninth in the 16-team field at 621. The tournament medalist was Brock Gleadall of Olivet at 74-69--143. Sharing honors for Hope were Don Kring and Steven Strock at 151 followed by Don Scholten 154, Josh Jelenek 159 and Dan Oumedian 161. The team's best score was by Nick Campbell on the "B" team at 150 strokes.

Flying Dutchmen Second at Red Poling Classic (10/7/08)
The Flying Dutchmen tied for second place at the six-team Red Poling Classic held at the TPC course in Dearborn. The invitational honors Harold Arthur "Red" Poling who served as the president and later CEO of the Ford Motor Company. Malone, Ohio won the 18-hole competition at 306 strokes, followed by Hope and Monmouth at 318, Spring Arbor 329, Augustana 333 and Calvin 345. The medalist was Mitch Bent of Spring Arbor at 75. Leading Hope was freshman Nicholas Campbell at 77 strokes, followed by Steven Strock 78, Donald Kring 80, Chris Ansel 83, and Donald (DJ) Scholten 87.

SPRING NON-LEAGUE TOURNAMENTS

Flying Dutchmen Fifth at Gettig Invitational (4/18/09)
The Flying Dutchmen finished fifth in the 10-team Bill Gettig Invitational hosted by Trine University at the Zollner golf course. Huntington won the two-day, 36-hole event at 594 strokes. Hope ended 17 strokes behind at 611. The medalist was Terence Clingaman of Trine at 73-69--142. Leading Hope was Steve Strock who tied for seventh place at 77-71--148. Scores of other Hope golfers were Don Kribng 78-75--153, Nick Campbell 81-72--153, Dan Oumedian 77-80--157, and Josh Jelenek 87-84--171.

Flying Dutchmen Fourth at Trine Invitational (4/15/09)
The Flying Dutchmen finished fourth in the 10-team A.C. Eddy Invitational hosted by Trine University at the Zollner golf course. MIAA champion Olivet won the tournament with an 18-hole team round (four players) of 291. Hope totaled 306 strokes. Steve Strock led Hope with a one-over 73 followed by Chris Ansel 75, Nick Campbell 78 and Josh Whyle 80.

Flying Dutchmen Fourth at Ohio Tournament (4/11/09)
The Flying Dutchmen finished fourth in the 14-team Lamkin Strimer Memorial Invitational hosted by Ohio Wesleyan this weekend. MIAA champion Olivet won the tournament. Hope finished 18 strokes off the pace. Leading Hope was Steven Strock who was 10th overall at 72-79--151. Scores of other Hope golfers were Nick Campbell 79-75--154, Don Scholten 76-80--156, Chris Ansel 75-84--159, and Andy Thomson 77-87--164.