EDINA, Minn. – The Gustavus men's golf team wrapped up the fall season Monday, completing the final round of the 2024 MIAC Championships at Braemar Golf Course in Edina. The Gusties took fifth overall, led by the performance of Chris Gutuza (Jr., Johannesburg, South Africa), who finished second in the tournament as one of only two players to shoot below par in the three-day event.

Carleton claimed the championship title, earning the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships in the spring. The Knights were 18 shots ahead of the next school, posting a three round 292-297-285 for a 874 total. Carleton's Ryan Choi just edged Gutuza for the individual championship, using an impressive five-under Monday performance to finish with a 212. The Gusties totaled a 902 with a 298-307-297, 28 strokes behind the champion Knights. Bethel and Saint John's tied for second with a 28-over 292, while Concordia took fourth with an 899, just three shots ahead of Gustavus.

Gutuza started the day off strong, carding four birdies in the front nine. He added two more on holes 15 and 16 to finish with a one-under 71 in the third round of competition. The junior finished with a 73-71-71-215, one under par, through three days on the course. His 215 is the third-lowest 54-hole round score at the championship tournament in program history behind that of Alex Kolquist '13 (202 in 2012) and Jacob Pedersen '22 (210 in 2018). Gutuza was joined by Teddy Kaste (Sr., Apple Valley) on the All-Championship team, as both finished in the top 10 of athletes competing. They will each automatically earn All-Conference accolades come spring. Kaste tied for sixth overall, shooting a one-over 73 on the final day of his final MIAC Championship weekend. Kaste carded a birdie on hole four and shot even on 15 holes for the rest of his round. 

For the rest of the Gusties, Blake Forrest (So., Maple Grove) took 22nd overall, dropping three spots with a round three 76. Forrest carded a pair of birdies, and was 13-over for the weekend with a 76-77-76-229. Pelayo Perez Crespo (Jr., Sotogrande, Spain) took 31st overall with a 235 after posting his best round on Monday. Perez Crespo shot a 77 with a trio of birdies in his final round. Wyatt Carlson (Jr., Wayzata) rounded out the team in 34th with an 80 on day three, finishing with a 78-84-80 for a 242 three round total.

"Proud of how our guys continued to fight throughout the tournament even though things were not clicking on all cylinders," said Head Coach Scott Moe '95. "We came out today firing on all cylinders, but the conditions allowed good scoring today, so we couldn't make up any ground. Hats off to Carleton as they had five guys play some outstanding golf. Congrats to Teddy and Chris for making the All-Tournament team. Our conference is very deep so that is a great honor. Chris put up a fight for mentalist honors and the other guy birdied the last three holes to beat him. After six grueling weeks of tournament play, time to shut it down for the off-season. We've got some work to do, but we will be ready come springtime."

The Gusties will return to the course in the spring for the remainder of their season.