Alexandria boys' golf team sixth at Brainerd

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The Cardinal boys’ golf team saw its top two golfers have a rare off day and it resulted in a sixth-place finish at the Brainerd Invite last Wednesday.

Casey Vangsness and Chris Sholts, two of the best golfers in the Central Lakes Conference, shot 79 and 82, respectively. Brian Robley (80) and Jordan Hafdal (81) responded with solid rounds behind them but it was not enough to edge Fergus Falls in what was the first CLC meet of the season.

The Otters got three rounds in the 70s from Nick Risbrudt (76), Lucas Gervais (77) and Keaton Lausch (79) to finish five shots off the win with a 312. Alexandria was 10 shots back of Fergus with a 322.

“This was one of those days where things just did not go well for Casey and Chris,” head coach Rick Larson said. “Casey was not feeling well but managed to play the front nine even. On the back, he hit the wall and only had three pars with bogeys and one double bogey. Chris just never got it going today. He started with a three-putt bogey on the first hole and never seemed to get into any kind of rhythm. His comment to me was even over the short three-foot putts, he was uncomfortable.”

Robley and Hafdal helped the Cardinals stay close with their best rounds this season. Robley’s round was highlighted by an eagle on a par five that was inches away from going in the cup on his iron shot for a double eagle. Hafdal was consistent, going one-under on the back through six holes before a triple bogey on a par three.

“They both played well for very little, if any, experience on this course,” Larson said.

The loss to Fergus Falls leaves Alexandria with some ground to make up in the CLC race. There is plenty of time to do that with five conference meets left to play.

The Cardinals’ first chance comes tomorrow, Thursday, when they travel to Little Falls.

BRAINERD INVITE RESULTS

TEAM RESULTS – 1. Moorhead – 307; 2. Edina – 311; 3. Fergus Falls – 312; 4. Chaska – 315; 5. Armstrong – 320; 6. Alexandria – 322; 7. Stillwater – 326; 8. Minnetonka – 327; 9. Moundsview – 328; 10. Bemidji – 331; 11. Brainerd – 335; 12. Sartell – 338; 13. St. Cloud Tech – 340; 14. Rocori – 349; 15. Sauk Rapids – 350; 16. Willmar – 361; 17. Pequot Lakes – 362; 18. Little Falls – 379; 19. Apollo – 382

ALEXANDRIA SCORES – Vangsness – 79; Robley – 80; Hafdal – 81; Sholts – 82; Shawn Sahli – 89; Tyler Bloedorn – 93

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