POST-MATCH SCOREBOARD
Sunday-Monday, Sept. 8-9 • Winona, Minn.
Winona State Invitational

Cardinal men 7th

Cardinals Top Finishers
1. Eric Thom: 80-72—152
2. Kyle Sabot: 77-79—156
3. Bill Volckman: 82-79—161
UP NEXT: SMU at St. John's Invitational

Sun.-Mon., Sept. 16-17 • St. Cloud, Minn.
Thom, Sabot lead Cardinals to 7th in season-opening WSU Invitational

WINONA, Minn. — It was the kind of performance that had Coach Tom Farren pulling his hair out.

On the one hand, he saw his Saint Mary's University men's golf team fire a two-day total of 646 — better than any two-day score from a year ago — en route to a seventh-place showing in the season-opening Winona State Invitational Saturday and Sunday at the Winona Country Club.

On the other hand, however, Farren didn't get the consistency he knows his team needs to have.

"I'm really not quite sure how to assess it," said Farren, whose team fired rounds of 325 and 321 for their seventh-place finish. "We had some guys who did about what I expected them to do, and then we had some others who struggled more than I thought they would. Before the season started I figured I'd have eight or nine guys battling to make our top five — and after this tournament, that's exactly what we've got."

Eric Thom (Portland, Ore.) led the way for the Cardinals, rebounding from a nine-over 80 in Saturday's opening round with a one-over 72 on Sunday. Kyle Sabot (Arden Hills, Minn.) was SMU's most consistent performer, shooting rounds of 77 and 79, while Bill Volckmann (Morrison, Ill.) chipped in rounds of 82 and 79. Joe Monaldi (Valpariso, Ind.) (86-91) and Tony Headrick (Oakdale, Minn.) (89-93) rounded out the Cardinals' top five.

"Consistency has got to be our No. 1 priority," said Farren. "Our top three guys had four of their six rounds in the 70s — which is great to see — now we've got to get the others to bring their scores down a bit."

SMU's second team turned in 669 score, led by Matt Konicek (Wauconda, Ill.) (81-83) and D.J. Schweitzer (Johnsburg, Ill.) (83-83). Brendan Hollandsworth (Flossmoor, Ill.) (90-81), Paul Hable (Shoreview, Minn.) (90-85) and Brandan Huxhold (Barrington, Ill.) (83-95) also competed for the Cardinals No. 2 team.

"I said before the season started that our goal was to use our first three tournaments to try and solidify our top five," said Farren. "This tournament just proves how tough a task that's going to be."