By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
ALGONQUIN, Ill. — Kyle Brodt (Roseville, Minn.) and Joe Abdo (Edina, Minn.) got the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's golf team off to a roaring start at the 36-hole Tim Kopka Memorial Tournament Friday afternoon.
 
Brodt carded a season-best two-over par 73—leaving him tied for 11^th individually—while Abdo added a seven-over 78 to lead the Cardinals to an 11th-place team showing following the tournament's opening 18 holes.
 
Tyler Dove (Hudson, Wis.) chipped in a nine-over 80 for the Cardinals, while Juan Sanchez (Bogota, Colombia / 81) and Bryce Galewski (Winona, Minn. / 83) rounded out the Cardinal lineup.
 
Illinois Wesleyan leads the 21-team tournament, shooting a one-under 283, while host Carthage is second at 295. Illinois Wesleyan's Rob Wuethrich is the individual leader after carding a two-under 69, giving him a one-shot lead over Jordan Knutson of Carthage and Jordan Elliott of the University of Dubuque
 
The Cardinals return to Randall Oaks Golf Club on Saturday for the second round of the 36-hole Tim Kopka Memorial Tournament.