JORDAN, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's golf team entered this year's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships brimming with confidence, having posted their two best scores of the season in last weekend's Wisconsin Lutheran Invitational.
 
And Saturday afternoon, several of the Cardinals picked up right where they left off.
 
Kyle Brodt (Roseville, Minn.) posted a team-best four-over-par 76 and Hunter Rau (Plainview, Minn.) added a five-over 77 to lead the Cardinals to a ninth-place showing after the opening round of the 54-hole event at Ridges at Sand Creek Golf Course.
 
St. Thomas, fueled by the two low individual rounds of the afternoon, grabbed the first-day lead with a opening-round 283 and hold a nine-shot lead over Augsburg, with Saint John's 13 shots off the pace.
 
UST's Pete Sienko and Shane Sienko led the way for the Tommies, carding a three-under-par 68 and a two-under 69, respectively, to take the top two spots in the individual standings. Brett Buckingham of Augsburg carded a one-under 71, with Alec Auman of Gustavus adding an even-par 72. Harrison Cooper and Dakota Krech of Augsburg, Saint John's Jack Koehler, Gustavus' Kristian Woie, and Concordia's Nathaniel Kahlbaugh are all sitting tied for fifth with first-round 73s.
 
Along with the efforts of Brodt and Rau, the Cardinals also got an 82 from Brett Jackson (Edmonton, Alberta), an 84 from Tyler Dove (Hudson, Wis.), and a 91 from Bryce Galewski (Winona, Minn.)
 
Day 2 of the three-day event kicks off Sunday morning, with the final round taking place on Monday—also at Ridges at Sand Creek.