LHS junior Owen Sudenga placed 55th in the 3AA Minnesota State High School League boys’ golf tournament at Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan.
The event was a two-day 18-hole tournament with 88 golfers from around Minnesota participating.
Sudenga shot 85 on the first day of play June 12 and an 80 on Day 2 June 13.
LHS head coach John Sichmeller said, “Owen didn’t play his best golf, but he finished off strong and played even par his last 12 holes of the tournament.”
Sudenga was the only Luverne High School golfer to qualify for the second round of the state tournament. He shot a 74 at the Oakdale Golf Club in Buffalo Lake earlier this month to move on in the state individual tournament.
The LHS team finished second behind New London-Spicer.
When asked about making it to state this year, Sudenga said, “It was really cool and a fun experience, and I definitely made some good memories.”
The first-time state qualifier felt he didn’t compete as well as he could have.
“There were definitely a lot of good golfers there,” he said. “But unfortunately my game wasn’t at the spot I wanted it to be.
“It took me a few too many holes to get adjusted to the tough course conditions, but it was a good learning curve for next year,” Sudenga said.
When asked if he had any advice for younger players just starting out in high school golf, Sudenga said, “I would tell them to stick with it and have fun, even when things aren’t going your way.”
As for goals next year as a senior in golf, Sudenga said he would continue practicing and playing over the summer, and that he hoped he could return to state next year with the team.