The Luverne boys’ golf team won the Sub-Section 3A team title during Monday’s meet in Tyler. Team members include (from left) Tony Smedsrud, coach John Oksness, Steven Berghorst, Andy Haakenson, Austin Hoiland, Jesson Vogt and Colby Anderson.By John RittenhouseThe Luverne boys’ golf team earned its first berth in the Section 3A Golf Championships in four years during the Sub-Section 10 meet in Tyler Monday.The Cardinals were able to wrestle the team title away from defending champion Pipestone on a cold, wet and windy day in Tyler.Luverne posted a 337-stroke total during the 18-hole event, besting Pipestone (353) by 16 strokes and the other three teams in a five-squad field.Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (367), Southwest Christian (388) and Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth (398) capped the boys’ field.Luverne’s win ended a four-year drought of not advancing to the section meet as a team. The last time LHS advanced to the section tournament in team competition was 1999.Colby Anderson played a key role in Luverne’s victory by winning the Sub-Section 10 individual championship. Anderson shot a nine-over-par 80 to lead all players at the event.Andy Haakenson finished tied for third place individually with an 85, and Tony Smedsrud and Jesson Vogt were in a three-way tie for fifth place with 86s.Anderson, Haakenson, Vogt and Smedsrud produced scores that counted toward Luverne’s effort as a team.Steven Berghorst and Austin Hoiland turned in 88- and 90-stroke efforts without influencing the scoring.Luverne will take a 21-21 record into the Section 3A Championships at the Marshall Country Club Friday.H-BC-E’s 9-10 boys’ season came to an end Monday.The Patriots finished fifth as a team (the top team advances) and no H-BC-E players were able to lock up one of the five individual qualifying positions for the section tournament.Tom Janssen carded a 96 to lead the Patriots. He needed to shoot a 90 to enter a playoff for the fifth individual qualifying position for the section field.Kyle Sammons carded a 98 for H-BC-E, while Clint Roozenboom and Dustin Bonnema contributed 102-stroke efforts to the team tally. Dusty Seachris and Travis Broesder carded 115 and 126-stroke rounds without influencing the scoring.While the Cardinal boys ended a drought at the sub-section meet, the Luverne girls had an extended run of being the team champion snapped during Monday’s competition.Murray County Central nipped the Cards 381-382 to win the sub-section team title, keeping the Cardinals from winning the event for the first time in 10 years (1993).Fulda (387), Adrian (418), Pipestone (437), T-M-B (441) and SWC (548) finished behind MCC and Luverne in the team standings.Luverne did gain some representation for the section event as seniors Gabe Van Dyke and Kim Bennett locked up two of the five individual berths up for grabs in Tyler.Van Dyk tied for second place individually with Fulda’s Erin Oakland MCC’s Alix Bergman by shooting a 19-over-par 90. Fulda’s Abby Oakland won the individual title with an 84.Bennett placed fifth individually with a 92.Mindy Lysne and Nikki Van Dyk added 96- and 104-stroke efforts to Luverne’s team effort. Lysne needed to shoot a 95 to enter a playoff for the fifth individual qualifying position for the section event.Luverne, which finishes the team season with a 34-6 record, received 106- and 121-stroke rounds from Jessica Klein and Brittany Boeve that didn’t contribute to the team scoring.Adrian ends a 10-13 season after placing fourth overall as a team. No Dragons earned individual qualifying positions at the event.Carmen Erlandson shot a 29-over-par 100 to pace AHS.Chantel Cook, Kristi Lonneman and Gina Wolf added 103-, 104- and 111-stroke scores to the team tally.Kelly Banck and Trista Honermann turned in 121- and 125-stroke efforts without impacting the scoring.
