By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women'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 Blackberry Ridge Golf Course in Sartell, Minn., the following two days to take part in the Saint Benedict 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:
• Saint Mary's, Concordia, Augsburg, St. Catherine, St. Thomas, Bethel, Gustavus, St. Olaf, U. of Manitoba, Macalester, Carleton, Saint Benedict
  
Last Action:
• This weekend's action marks the season opener for the Cardinals.
 
Saint Mary's vs. Macalester—Their Last Meeting:
• September 1, 2015 * The Jewell Golf Course, Lake City, Minn.: Madison Gately (Glenview, Ill.) and Haley Jung (Monticello, Minn.) led the way for Saint Mary's in its season-opening effort against Macalester. Gately's 88 and Jung's 89, however, were not enough to carry the Cardinals past Macalester, as the Scots dealt Saint Mary's a 346-392 setback in the Mac/Mary Dual at The Jewel | Recap
 
Saint Mary's at Saint Benedict Invitational—A Year Ago:
• September 2-3, 2017 * Blackberry Ridge Golf Course, Sartell, Minn.: The Cardinals, with Kaitlin Kling (LeRoy, Minn.) leading the way, shaved 11 shots off their opening-round 406, shooting a final-round 395 for an 811 two-total and a 12^th-place team finish at the 36-hole Saint Benedict Invitational | Day 1 Recap * Day 2 Recap
 
Up Next:
• The Cardinals are back in action next Saturday and Sunday, traveling to Prairie Links Golf Course in Waverly, Iowa to take part in the Wartburg Invitational.
 
Scouting The Saint Mary's Cardinals:
2018 Roster | 2018 Schedule | 2018 Statistics
• Kaitlin Kling (LeRoy, Minn.) closed out her senior season with a team-best 84.3 scoring average. … Kling led the Cardinals in scoring in all nine rounds she's competed in last season. … Kling shot 82 or better in three of her nine competitive rounds last season—including a season-best 79 during the second round of the season-opening Saint Benedict Invitational. … Kling's season-best 79 at the Saint Benedict Invitational was two shots shy of her collegiate best. … Kling's 161 total (82-79) at the season-opening Saint Benedict Invitational was just two shots shy of her 36-hole school record. Kling carded an 80-79—159 at the D3 Classic a year ago. … Kling closed out her career owning four collegiate rounds of 79 or better—posting three 79s and a career-best 77 during her four years as a Cardinal. … Kling's career-best 77 was just three shots shy of the school record 74 shot by Andrea Hanke at the Luther Invitational during the 2004 season. … Paula Avila (Weslaco, Texas) carded a career-best 89 during the second round of the Wartburg Invitational on Sept. 10. … Avila closed out the year second to Kling in scoring average at 95.5. … Grace Gillis (New Ulm, Minn.) enjoyed a career weekend at the D3 Classic on Sept. 16-17. The sophomore posted a then-career-best 94 during the opening round of the 36-hole tournament, before shaving four strokes off that mark en route to a career-low 90 the following day. … Gillis followed up her 94-90—184 with two more rounds in the 90s at the Luther Invitational on Sept. 22-23, shooting 95-97—192, not to mention a 97 during the opening round of the 54-hole MIAC Championships. … Gillis ranked third on the team in scoring average at 99.8, followed by Michaela Heuckendorf (Plymouth, Minn. / 101.6). … Heuckendorf also posted a career-best round at the Wartburg Invitational, shooting an opening-round 89 on Sept. 9. … Saint Mary's posted its top team total of the season at the Wartburg Invitational on Sept. 9, shooting 368 in the opening round. The Cardinals added a 370 during the second day of the Luther Invitational on Sept. 23.