The Rochester Lourdes boys golf team got extremely familiar with runner-up status on Thursday.
It wasn't a bad way for the Eagles to finish, though at least one of their team members was hoping and looking like he'd get more.
Thanks to a looming storm, the state Class AA boys golf tournament was turned into a one-day event. Wednesday's scores counted, while Thursday's scores — which were incomplete — did not.
Halfway through Thursday's competition at Ridges at San Creek in Jordan, tournament official pulled the plug on the event because of the weather, and determined they weren't going to make it up.
So, Wednesday's scores became final. That left Lourdes with a 304 total, for second place. Orono was first with a 292. Virginia landed second, at 305.
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It also meant Lourdes junior Nic Jensen was a second-place individual finisher. While Jensen likes the sound of second place, he knows it could have been even better for him. He played 10 holes Thursday, and when he finished them he was the tournament's leader, shooting 1-under par over those two-day 28 holes. He carded a 42 over 10 holes Thursday, including hitting a birdie on No. 10.
It was a bittersweet way for the tournament to end for him. It was also an ending that produced a hug from Holy Angels' Jake Erickson, to Jensen. Erickson won the tournament based on Wednesday's scores, but knew it easily could have gone to Jensen had weather not gotten in the way.
"I feel pretty disappointed, but also happy with second," said Jensen, who was aiming to become the first Lourdes junior to ever win a state golf title. "That Holy Angels kid gave me a hug when it was over, saying he knew it was my tournament to win."
Despite wishing that the tournament could have been played out, Lourdes coach Chris Miller said event officials made the right choice.
"They made a good decision," Miller said. "They also did a great job then of getting people off the golf course."
Miller went away smiling at the season his team had given him.
"I'm proud of our kids," he said. "They've been a great bunch all year, full of hard workers and really fun to be around. And the great thing is that I'll get them all back next year."
Lourdes doesn't have a senior among its top golfers.
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The Eagles were led Wednesday by Jensen's 70. Alex Kapraun had a 76, Alex Shepherd a 76, Andy Benner an 82, Channing Tipton an 85 and Nick Shen a 93.
• Stewartville's Blake Honsey finished with a 74, which tied him for 11th place overall. Byron's Dom Kieffer was 27th with a 77.
• At Ridges at Sand Creek, par 72
Day 1 (Final scores)
Team scores
1. Orono 292, 2. Rochester Lourdes 304, 3. Virginia 305, 4. Academy of Holy Angels 312, 5. Detroit Lakes 315, 6. Fairmont 318, 7. St. Cloud Cathedral 318, 8. Luverne 334.
Top five individuals
1. Jake Erickson, Holy Angels 69; 2. Nic Jensen, Lourdes, 70; 3. (tie) Luke Magnuson, Litchfield; Patrick Johnston, Orono; Zach Israelson, Staples-Motley, 71.
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Lourdes
Nic Jenson 36-34—70, Alex Kapraun 37-39—76, Alex Shepherd 37-39—76, Andy Benner 42-40—82, Channing Tipton 42-43—85, Nick Shen 44-49—93.
Local finishers
Blake Honsey, Stewartville, 40-34—74; Dom Kieffer, Byron, 38-39—77, Charlie Kretschmer, Winona Cotter, 38-41—79; Calvin Waller, La Crescent, 39-42—81; Logan Bashaw, Byron, 41-41—82; Garrett Schaefer, Triton, 46-42—88.
