HARTFORD, Wis. — Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's golf coach Steve Randgaard could not have asked for a better final Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tune-up.
 
In fact, Randgaard's Cardinals appear to be well-tuned for this weekend's 54-hole conference championships.
 
The Cardinals put together their two best team performances of the season, adding a second-day 303 to their opening-round 302 for a 605 total—and a second-place finish at the Wisconsin Lutheran Invitational at Washington County Golf Course.
 
The Cardinals finished second to Carthage in the team standings, as the Redmen used a second-day 296 to erase Saint Mary's one-stroke first-round lead and take home the team title with a 599 360-hole total.
 
Lake Forest placed third (307-304—611), followed by Edgewood (307-308—615, and Wisconsin Lutheran (310-314—624).
 
Hunter Rau (Plainview, Minn.) led the way for the Cardinals, shooting an opening-round one-over-par 73, and coming back with a two-over 74 for  a 147 total—and a sixth-place individual showing.
 
Kyle Brodt (Roseville, Minn.) finished three shots back of his teammate, after rounds of 76-74—150), while Brett Jackson (Edmonton, Alberta / 79-74—153), Bryce Galewski (Winona, Minn. / 78-81—159), and Juan Sanchez (Bogota, Colombia / 75-85—160) rounded out the Cardinals' top five. Bobby McNaney (Mendota Heights, Minn. / 83-73—156), Tyler Dove (Hudson, Wis. / 81-79—160), and Blair Sanders (Lee's Summit, Mo. / 87-74—161) all competed as individuals for the Cardinals.
 
Lake Forest's Jacob Krugman (73-71) and Milwaukee School of Engineering's Sullivan Schrandt (76-68) shared medalist honors with even-par 144s, one shot in front of Edgewood's Zach Hentrich (72-73).
 
The Cardinals are right back in action this weekend, heading to Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan, Minn., to take part in the 54-hole Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships.