MARSHALL, Mich. – The Trine University men's golf team opened MIAA play with a win at the first of four fall MIAA Jamborees. The team with the lowest combined total strokes after the four jamborees and the MIAA Spring Final will earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. Garrett James led the Thunder with a 70 (-1), placing second overall.
 
Trine took the team title with 300 strokes, three ahead of second place Hope College. Adrian College and Calvin University tied for third with 304 strokes. Alma (318), Kalamazoo (319), Albion (321), and Olivet (344) rounded out the leaderboard.
 
James teed off on thirteen to start the day, he made bogey there and on fifteen but would do no worse than par the rest of the day. He rattled off four consecutive pars before birdies on holes two and three leveled his score at even par. He remained there for the next eight holes before besting the 511-yard par five twelfth to finish one under.
 
Carter Schnipke placed seventh individually with a 74 (+3). He made par on seven of his first ten holes to open his round including a birdie on seventeen. A string of bogeys pushed his score to four over, like James, he made birdie on twelve to finish his day and lower his score.
 
Lance Decker placed 14^th with a 77 (+6). The freshman made birdie on hole thirteen and added ten pars to solidify his round.
 
Jake Bilby was Trine's fourth counter, he placed 22^nd with a 79 (+8). He made birdie on hole fourteen.
 
The Thunder return to the links next Thursday for the second MIAA Jamboree which is to be hosted by The University of Olivet at The Medalist Golf Course.