Storbeck, Lloyd drive B.E. Area golfers to victory
BLUE EARTH — Even 40-degree temperatures and chilly winds on Friday could not prevent Blue Earth Area’s Gavin Storbeck and Ashton Lloyd from heating up the Riverside Town & Country Club fairways.
Storbeck, who made the switch from the baseball diamond to the tee box, and Lloyd penciled in a pair of sub-40, nine-hole totals to power the Bucs to a season-opening 159-202 nonconference dual golf meet triumph over the Maple River Eagles.
Storbeck fired a 1-over par 37 to earn medalist honors, while Lloyd proved the event’s runner-up with a 2-over 38.
Storbeck birdied the par-5 ninth hole and connected for six pars to pace his low-scoring ways, while Lloyd made par seven times to highlight his stellar performance.
Max Ehrich penciled in a 42, while Nathan Murphy collected a 43 to complete Blue Earth Area’s counting scores. Ehrich generated four pars, while Murphy birdied the par-3 fourth hole to complement two pars.
Braden Gudahl and Kyren Sunken completed the Bucs’ efforts on the opening dual with a 44 and a 55, respectively. Gudahl connected for four pars on his nine-hole round.
Teien Murphy sank five pars to produce a team-best mark of 41 for Maple River, while Grant Klein made two pars to pace a 48.
Kyle Sohre and Nolan Walker rounded out the Eagles’ counting totals with a 53 and a 60, respectively.
Blue Earth Area (1-0) hosts Martin County West at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Riverside Town & Country Club.
Madelia 189, Alden-Conger 205, Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial/Nicollet 215 — Colin Wihlm carded a medalist nine-hole round of 43 to guide the Blackhawks to a season-opening Valley Conference triangular triumph over the Knights and Knight-Raiders, respectively, on Thursday at Oakview Golf Course in Freeborn.
Colin Wihlm connected for a birdie on the par-4 ninth hole to complement pars on Nos. 1, 4, 5 and 6 to garner top individual honors.
Collin Tierney and Josiah DeMaris each produced nine-hole totals of 48 for Madelia, while Colby Wihlm capped the counting scores with a 50.
Noah Tierney and Luke Stensrud each shot a 60 to complete the Blackhawks’ effort.
LCWM/Nicollet’s Drew Grommersch fired a 46 to pocket runner-up accolades.
Madelia (2-0) plays host to LCWM/Nicollet at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday in Madelia.