Luverne junior Colby Anderson sends a chip toward the pin on the eighth green during Tuesday’s home golf match against Hull Western Christian. The effort helped Anderson par the hole during what ended as a 38-stroke round. Luverne won the match by 26 strokes.By John RittenhouseThe Luverne boys’ golf team earned a split while playing a pair of matches since Thursday.The Cardinals lost a 10-stroke decision in Redwood Falls Thursday before returning home to beat Hull (Iowa) Western Christian by 26 strokes at the Luverne Country Club Tuesday.Luverne, 8-5 overall, plays road matches against Pipestone (today), Red Rock Central (Friday) and Jackson (Tuesday). The Cards also will compete at the Worthington Invitational Saturday.Luverne 161, HWC 187Balanced scoring led the Cardinals to a 26-stroke victory over HWC during Tuesday’s match in Luverne.Four shots separated Luverne’s four top players during the match, led by a medal-earning, two-over-par 38 turned in by Colby Anderson.Tony Smedsrud, David Nelson and Steven Berghorst pitched in 40-, 41- and 42-stroke rounds to the winning team tally.Kirk Oldre and Andy Haakenson shot 46- and 47-stroke rounds without influencing the scoring.Ethan Haveman led HWC with a 42.With Dan Park shooting a 47 to lead the way, Luverne prevailed 193-204 in the B match.RWV 165, Luverne 175The Cardinals slipped below the .500 mark (2-3) in Southwest Conference play after falling to host Redwood Valley by 10 strokes in Redwood Falls Thursday.Tim Madson set the stage for victory by carding a three-over-par 39 for the winners.Anderson led LHS with a six-over-par 42.Nelson, Smedsrud and Kirk Oldre turned in respective 43-, 44- and 46-stroke rounds to cap the team scoring for Luverne.Berghorst and Grant Oldre shot 49- and 53-stroke rounds without impacting the scoring.
