By Bruce Karnick

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As far as weather goes, the boys could not have asked for a better day on the course last Thursday at Southview Country Club in West St. Paul. Southview is a gorgeous, private golf course, nestled on the border of West. St. Paul and Inver Grove Heights.

“It’s a beautiful place to be. Our kids get a chance to play courses like this, a country club that you know, from an out of town perspective, you know it’s something unique that they might not ever get a chance to do again,” Head Coach Matt Klein explained.

The excitement in Coach Klein’s voice tells a story all on its own, he’s excited to have his boys on the course after a year off but yet disappointed for the seniors he lost last year.

“We take, you know any athlete welcoming, and last year I think we had 13 seniors that ended up graduating, and you know, you feel sorry for those kids that didn’t get this opportunity, but you know, the kids are here. We got, you know kids that grew up playing baseball or kids that, you know, never touched a golf club until they’re in their teens. We are a program that takes all and we want to have fun, we’re going to get better and, you know, so far so good, happy, happy to be right here today,” added Coach Klein.

The game of golf is one everyone should be familiar with, or at least the scoring. Scoring on an individual level in golf is simple, each stroke counts as one and the object is to get the lowest score as possible. Of course, there are other things that play into the score such as penalty strokes and what not, but there is no need to go into those.

How does the team game work for the High School sport? Coach Klein explained. “Each team can bring six players, and within those six players you’re playing individually. You’re playing your own ball, but you’re going to take the best four scores out of those six players in each event.”

If a team does not have a minimum of four golfers, that team is not eligible to score team points, but the individual scores do count towards conference events. Teams that do not have the four golfers receive a Did Not Score (DNS) mark for the team aspect.

Hastings moved to 2-0 on the season by winning the second tri meet 171-202-DNS.

Coach Klein spoke highly of the teams first tri win over Tartan and Simley the previous week. “it was pretty gritty. On a really windy, cold day on a beautiful course, and, you know, it’s just, it’s, it’s not about what we do at the end it’s how we get there, and our kids, you know, after putting, you know, for example, Joey Benson, ends up shooting a 43. He four putts, the seventh hole to one putt, the eighth hole, and, you know, things like that that you live and learn and you enjoy, you know, and at the end of the day when we win by two strokes, but, you know, if, if he doesn’t find a way to get back to his game, you know, it’s a different day for the Raiders to.”

The boys have a series of meets coming up, keeping them busy for the next few weeks. Tuesday the 27th, they will face Mahtomedi, then Wednesday at Henry Sibley. Monday, May 3rd they host Farmintong, Tuesday they travel to St. Thomas Academy and Monday the 10th against Park.

The Raiders Jake Harris tees off at hole four of Southview Country Club in Inver Grove Heights on Thursday in the three team match between South St. Paul and Henry Sibley. Harris finished the day with a 43 on the Par 36 course helping Hastings win the meet. Photo by Bruce Karnick