By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
SARTELL, Minn. — Jessica Massimo (Kenosha, Wis.) kicked off her collegiate career by shooting an 89 Friday in the Cardinals' dual-meet loss to Macalester in the teams' annual Mac/Mary Dual.
 
And Saturday, she did that career-best one better, as the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota freshman shot a team-leading 88 during the opening round of the 36-hole Saint Benedict Invitational.
 
Fueled by Massimo's effort, the Cardinals shot an opening-round 385, leaving them 13^th heading into Sunday's final round.
 
Carleton holds the opening-round lead with a 297, 17 shots in front of Gustavus, with Saint Benedict I (321), Saint Benedict II (332), and the University of Manitoba (335) rounding out the top five.
 
Saint Benedict's Natalie Amundson carded a medalist round of even-par 72, giving her a one shot lead over Carleton's Ayumi Sakamoto and Zyi Wang.
 
Along with Massimo's 88, the Cardinals also got a 96 from Annie Lorsung (Amery, Wis.), a 97 from Megan Larson (Galesville, Wis.), a 104 from Michaela Heuckendorf (Plymouth, Minn.), and a 107 from Annika Blesener (North St. Paul, Minn.).
 
The Cardinals return to Blackberry Ridge Golf Course on Sunday for the second round of the 36-hole event.