The Hastings Raiders boys golf team closed out the regular season with a strong performance at the Metro East Conference Championship on May 20 at Loggers Trail Golf Course in Stillwater. Competing in the varsity team stroke play event sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League, the Raiders teed off against a nine-team conference field and turned in one of their best team efforts of the spring. Hastings finished third overall with a score of 303, just one shot behind runner-up Mahtomedi and 14 strokes behind conference champion St. Thomas Academy.
Hastings received balanced scoring throughout its lineup, led by junior David Bauer, who delivered an even-par 73 to finish third individually in the conference standings. Bauer’s round kept him among the leaders throughout the day and provided the foundation for the Raiders’ team score. Junior Rylan Krauth also posted an impressive performance, carding a 75 to finish 10th overall. Freshman Chase Pine continued his strong season with a 77, good for 15th place, while senior Brecken Fullerton added a 78 to place 18th. Senior Drew Mamer rounded out the scoring group with an 81, finishing 28th, and senior Mason Leary shot an 84 to place 36th.
The team race remained competitive from start to finish. St. Thomas Academy claimed the conference title with a team score of 289, finishing three strokes under par as a team. Mahtomedi placed second at 302, edging Hastings by a single stroke. The Raiders, however, finished comfortably ahead of fourth-place Hill-Murray, which posted a 308. Simley followed in fifth at 313, while Two Rivers finished sixth at 315. South St. Paul, Tartan, and North St. Paul rounded out the field.
Bauer’s third-place finish highlighted the Raiders’ individual results and gave Hastings one of the top performers in the conference tournament. Krauth’s top-10 finish added another strong result, while Pine and Fullerton both secured top-20 finishes. The Raiders placed four golfers among the top 20 competitors and five among the top 30, showcasing the depth that helped the team remain in contention for second place throughout the event. With just one stroke separating Hastings and Mahtomedi in the final standings, every counted score proved important in a tightly contested race near the top of the leaderboard.
The third-place conference finish provides momentum as the Raiders move into postseason competition. Hastings demonstrated consistency across its lineup at one of the season’s most important events and will look to carry that form into sections. The team’s combination of experienced seniors, led by Mamer, Fullerton, and Leary, along with the strong play of Bauer, Krauth, and Pine, gives the Raiders confidence heading into the next stage of the season.
Hastings now turns its attention to the Section Tournament, day one is scheduled for May 28 at Loggers Trail Golf Course in Stillwater. The event is set for a 9:30 a.m. start, giving the Raiders another opportunity to compete on a course they just played during the conference championship. The top five teams and top 10 individuals, not on the top five teams advance to day 2, which is May 29 at 9:00 a.m. at Bunker Hills. The team will aim to build on its third-place Metro East Conference finish and continue its postseason push when section competition begins next week.