By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's golf team kicks off its 2018 schedule this weekend, squaring off against Macalester in the annual Mac/Mary Dual on Friday at Inver Wood Golf Course in Inver Grove Heights, Minn., before heading to Majestic Oaks Golf Course in Ham Lake, Minn., the following two days to take part in the Augsburg Invitational.
 
The Mac/Mary Dual:
• Saint Mary's v. Macalester: Friday, Aug. 31, 2018 | Highland National Golf Course * St. Paul, Minn.
 
The Augsburg Invitational Field:
• Augsburg, Bethel, Carleton, Concordia, Gustavus, Luther, Macalester, Manitoba, Nebraska Wesleyan, Saint Mary's, St. Thomas, UW-Eau Claire, Waldorf
 
Last Action:
• This weekend's action marks the season opener for the Cardinals.
 
Saint Mary's vs. Macalester—A Year Ago:
• September 1, 2017 * The Bridges Golf Course, Winona, Minn.: Hunter Rau (Plainview, Minn.) shot a seven-over-par 78 on the par-71 Bridges layout to lead the Cardinals to a 324-343 win in the annual MacMary Dual | Recap
 
Saint Mary's at Augsburg Invitational—A Year Ago:
• September 2-3, 2017 * Majestic Oaks Golf Course, Ham Lake, Minn.: Juan Sanchez (Bogota, Colombia), who carded seven-over-par 79 during the opening round of the 36-hole Augsburg Invitational, did that effort one better during Day 2, posting a six-over 78 to lead the Cardinals to a 641 36-hole total and a 16^th place team finish | Day 1 Recap * Day 2 Recap
 
Up Next:
• The Cardinals are back in action next Friday and Saturday, traveling to Randal Oaks Golf Course in West Dundee, Ill., to take part in the Tim Kopka Memorial Tournament, hosted by Carthage.
 
Scouting The Saint Mary's Cardinals:
2018 Roster | 2018 Schedule | 2018 Statistics
• The Cardinals closed out the fall portion of their schedule with their low round of the season, carding a 300 during the third and final round of the 2017 MIAC Championships. … The Cardinals' final-round 300 was just three shots shy of the team's school record. … Saint Mary's seventh-place finish at the MIAC Championships was its best showing since placing fifth during the 2008 season. … Saint Mary's posted a season-best second-place finish at the 16-team Wisconsin Lutheran Invitational last season, shooting rounds of 302-303—605. … The Cardinals boasted nine rounds of 79 or lower at the MIAC Championships, giving Saint Mary's 40 rounds under 80 last season. … Hunter Rau (Plainview, Minn.)—who shot his lowest two collegiate rounds at the Wisconsin Lutheran Invitational on Sept. 24-25, posting an opening-day one-over-par 73, and following that up with a two-over 74 for a 147 36-hole and a sixth-place individual finish—led the way for the Cardinals at the MIAC Championships with a 229 54-hole total (77-77-75). … Rau closed out the season shooting 79 or better in seven of his eight competitive rounds. … Kyle Brodt (Roseville, Minn.) finished the MIAC Championships at 232 (76-78-78), followed by Tyler Dove (Hastings, Minn. / 84-81-69—234), Brett Jackson (Edmonton, Alberta (82-83-78—245), and Bryce Galewski (Winona, Minn. / 89-75-80—244). … Dove's third-round three-under-par 69 was the Cardinals' low round of the season and just one shot off the single-round school record. … Dove's 69 was also the low third-round score of the MIAC Championships and the second-lowest round of the 54-hole tournament. … Bobby McNaney (Mendota Heights, Minn.) notched a career-best one-over 73 during the second round of the Wisconsin Lutheran Invitational on Sept. 23, while Kyle Brodt (Roseville, Minn.), Brett Jackson (Edmonton, Alberta), and Blair Sanders (Lee's Summit, Mo.) all recorded season-best second-round 74s. … Bryce Galewski (Winona, Minn.) enjoyed a career weekend at the Midwest Region Classic on Sept. 15-16, carding a career-low one-over-par 73 during the opening round of the 36-hole event. Galewski followed up that 73 with a second-day five-over 77 for a 150 total and a tie for fourth individually. … Hunter Rau (Plainview, Minn.) closed out his senior season boasting a team-best 76.8 scoring average, with Bryce Galewski (Winona, Minn. / 79.2), Juan Sanchez (Bogota, Colombia / 79.8), Brett Jackson (Edmonton, Alberta / 79.9), Kyle Brodt (Roseville, Minn. / 80.2), and Tyler Dove (Hastings, Minn. / 80.2) close behind. … The Cardinals' 313.5 scoring average last season was a single-season school record, four shots better than the previous mark, set in 1995. … The Cardinals kicked off the season with a victory over Macalester in the annual Mac/Mary Dual, held at the Bridges Golf Course in Winona, Minn. The Cardinals have now beaten the Scots in each of the last two Mac/Mary Duals. Saint Mary's snapped an eight-year Scots' winning streak with a victory in 2016.