WINONA, Minn. — Dan Messmann knew even before his Saint Mary's University women's golf team teed off at the UW-Eau Claire Invitational that they were going to be in for a bumpy ride during their season-opening tournament.

With three freshmen among his six competing golfers, Messmann figured these first two rounds of the season would certainly have some highs, as well as some lows.

What he didn't realize, however, was just how high the highs would be — and just how lows the lows would be.

The Cardinlas enjoyed the highest of highs during Saturday's opening round, as they fired a score of 361 that left them just 15 strokes out of second place in the 16-team field.

Then came Day 2 — and the lowest of lows — as SMU showed its youthfulness, struggling to a 382 total that left them 14th overall in the two-day event.

"I think on the first day, we proved that we can play with some of the top copmetition around," said Messmann, whose team's opening-day 361 included an 86 from Andrea Hanke (Janesville, Wis.), an 89 from Ashley Meschke (Pine River, Minn.), and 93s from Emily Nordstrom (Mendota Heights, Minn.) and Dani Lynch (Williston, N.D.). "But on the second day, we showed our youth and our inexperience."

After her opening-round 86, Hanke struggled to a 93 on Saturday, while Meschke balooned to a 95. Nordstrom chipped in a 94 and Lynch finished with a 100.

"Overall, I thought this tournament was a very good start for us," said Messmann. "That 361 was a great score — hopefully we can gain the consistency to shoot those types of scores every time out."