MEN'S GOLF
Flying Dutchmen Prepare for Nationals
Hope's NCAA Golf History
The MIAA champion Flying Dutchmen will play in the NCAA Division III golf championships beginning Tuesday. The four-day, 72-hole tournament will be played on two courses at the Chateau Elan Resort in Braselton, Ga. which is approximately 40 miles north of Atlanta.

The Flying Dutchmen have qualified as champions of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). Hope will be making their sixth appearance in the national tournament, the fifth since 2000. A year ago the team finished 18th after four consecutive 17th place finishes.

Hope's national roster will include junior Don Kring of Williamsburg (St. Francis HS), senior Matt Lapham of Brighton (Brighton HS), senior Steve Martindale of Midland (H.H. Dow HS), senior Ryan Sheets of Saline (Saline HS) and senior Tommy Yamaoka of Zeeland (Zeeland East HS). continues

Pelton is a graduate of Midland, Mich. High School. He transferred to Hope after playing at Division I Western Michigan University. His family currently resides in Rock Hill, S.C. He posted a 22-3 dual match record at #1 singles. He lost to only one Division III opponent.

Pelton was named the most valuable player in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). He went undefeated in conference dual matches and at the conference tournament becoming the first non-Kalamazoo College player to go through league play undefeated at first flight singles. Kalamazoo is a perennial tennis power with an unprecedented 70 consecutive league titles. Hope is the only team to interrupt the streak, forcing co-championships in 1962 and 2003.

Pelton's 22 wins this season was a Hope record for victories in a season. It has been 26 years since a Hope player was invited to the singles championship. In 1982, Tom DeWeert was defeated in the first round. continue

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