Benilde-St. Margaret’s Wins Class AAA Boys Golf Title

The Benilde-St. Margaret’s boys golf team rallied from nine shots down early in the second round to come back and win the state Class AAA championship by a single stroke.

Waconia finished second with Maple Grove in third, three shots back.

BSM’s team score of 296 Wednesday was four shots better than Tuesday’s opening round 300.

Sophomore Patrick Hastings, playing in the final group, dropped a five-foot par putt on the last hole to clinch the win for the Red Knights. Hastings shot rounds of 73 and 72 to tie for seventh place among individuals.

It is the first team championship for the Red Knights since the tournament went to three classes in 2008. BSM won a Class AA title in 2003.

Maple Grove, leading the tournament by three shots coming into the day and ahead for much of the second round, shot 305 as a team after opening with a 294.

The Crimson’s Davis Tripp (70-77) finished in 10 place. Senior Ryan Stendahl shot matching rounds of 74 to finish at 148 and in 11th place.