By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
SAUK CENTRE, Minn. — With the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships a week away, the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's golf team got a first-hand look at the competition during the opening round of the Saint John's Invitational Saturday.
 
With the entire conference field competing at the Saint John's Invitational, Saint Mary's coach Steve Randgaard was able to see how his Cardinals stacked up a week before the season-ending conference championships.
 
And the Cardinal head coach liked what he saw.
 
Kyle Brodt (Roseville, Minn.) carded a four-over-par 76 to lead the Cardinals to a 10^th-place showing after Day 1 of the 36-hole tournament.
 
Along with Brodt's 76 — which leaves him tied for 17^th individually — the Cardinals also got an 80 from Joe Abdo (Edina, Minn.), an 81 from Bryce Galewski (Winona, Minn.), an 82 from Jake Emeott (Chisago City, Minn.) and a 90 from Juan Sanchez (Bogota, Colombia).
 
The Cardinals travel to Blackberry Ridge Golf Course in Sartell, Minn., for the final round of the 36-hole event on Sunday.