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The tricky Minneapolis Golf Course proved not only to be challenging to the North Branch boys golf squad, but it threw the other 10 North Suburban Conference squads off their game.

"The course has very fast, slanted greens," head coach Tom Moriarty said of the short grass. "We hit the ball well, but most kids averaged 22, 23 putts. We never see the greens slanted like this, it's a good experience."

The quickness of the greens inflated the Vikings' score up to 184, and they finished in eighth place out of the 11-team field.

Even Benilde-St. Margaret's, who is averaging under 150 on the year, shot a 164 to finish tied for first place on the day with Spring Lake Park.

The Vikings were headed by Joe Fairbanks, who carded a 43 on the day. Doug Jorgenson and Jared Houle each scored a 46 for the Vikings, and Mike Dahl and Taylor Perreault each had a 49.

Jon Anderson of Spring Lake Park was the meet medalist, shooting a 38.

NSC Tournament

With a crowd of teams floating between seventh and eighth place in the conference, the Vikings hoped to make a permanent move to the seventh spot in the NSC Tournament at Pebble Creek on Thursday, May 15.

The Orioles of St. Louis Park were able to keep them at bay, however, and keep the Vikings stationary in eighth place.

The boys shot a 172 on the front nine to finish in seventh place, and although they shaved seven strokes off of that on their back nine, they still lost a place because Robbinsdale Cooper made a 17-stroke jump from front nine to back nine to lap the Vikings.

Dahl led the Viking charge, shooting an 83 on the day. Jorgenson and Houle shot matching 86s, and Jake Moosey and Joe Fairbanks rounded out the scoring with dual 87s.

Dahl, a junior, and Houle, an eighth-grader, both shot well enough to garner All-NSC Honorable Mention status, and as a team, the boys were the NSC Academic champions with a team grad point average of 3.71.

The Vikings' next challenge will be postseason play. Play began at 8 a.m. at Grand National in Hinckley on Wednesday, May 21, and the finals will wrap up on Monday, May 26.

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