By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
JORDAN, Minn. — Joe Abdo (Edina, Minn.) and Bryce Galewski (Winona, Minn.) got the Saint Mary's University men's golf team off and running during the opening round of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships Sunday afternoon.
 
The Cardinal duo carded identical six-over-par 78s to lead Saint Mary's to a ninth-place showing after the first round of the 54-hole event at Ridges at Sand Creek.
 
Gustavus grabbed a four-shot lead over Concordia, Saint John's and St. Thomas, shooting a 301. Augsburg chipped in an opening-round 30-6 and is sitting five shots back heading into Monday's final 36 holes.
 
Along with 78s from Abdo and Galewski, the Cardinals — who carded a 326 as a team — also received an 82 from Cooper Craiger (Des Moines, Iowa), an 88 from Blair Sanders (Kansas City, Mo.), and an 89 from Alex Allen (Monticello, Minn.).
 
Mike Ullan of Gustavus and Gage Stromme of Concordia share the first-round individual lead with one-over 73s, with David Schneider of Saint John's, Emmet Herb of St. Thomas, and River Goodmanson of Augsburg all one shot back.
 
The three-day, 54-hole MIAC Championships will conclude with the final two rounds on Monday at the Ridges at Sand Creek. A shotgun start will begin at 8 a.m. and there will be no formal break between rounds two and three.