WINON, Minn. — A week ago, in their season-opening two-day dual meet against Winona State, the Saint Mary's University men's golf team posted scores in the 70s like their was no tomorrow.

Eric Thom (Portland, Ore.), D.J. Schweitzer (McHenry, Ill.) and Curtis Nosal (Omaha, Neb.) all posted back-to-back rounds in the 70s at the tough Winona Country Club.

What a difference a week makes.

This weekend at the St. John's Invitational, those scores in the 70s were as rare as a snowstorm in July.

And it showed in the final standings.

With Thom the lone Cardinal to manage a score below 80 — a first-round, one-over-par 73 — SMU settled for a middle-of-the-road, ninth-place finish in the 16-team field.

And a sixth-place showing among the nine MIAC teams competing.

"Golf's a funny game — some days you've got it and some days you don't," said SMU coach Tom Farren. "This weekend we just didn't have it."

Thom was again the Cardinals' low scorer, adding a second-day 80 to his 73 for a 153 total. Schweitzer chipped in an 80-81—161, while Tom Johnston (Long Lake, Minn.) finished with an 87-80—167 and Nosal tallied an 88-84—172. Scott Savage (Mahtomedi, Minn.) led SMU's second team, which placed 16th, shooting a 163 (85-78).

FOR THE SMU WOMEN, it's been their Achilles heel all season — second-round letdowns, individually and as a team, had plagued SMU in its first two tournaments, and this past weekend at the Small College Invitational, it happened again.

The Cardinals opened with a respectable opening-round score of 375 — including an 82 from Andrea Hanke (Janesville, Wis.) that left the sophomore among the tournament's top five.

On Day 2, however, the Cardinals ballooned to a 388 to place sixth in the eight-team field.

And, while only two teams bettered their scores on the second day, only Simpson (which went from a 329 to a 361) and Macalester (which placed last with a 419-443) exceeded SMU's 13-stroke differential.

And on an individual basis, Hanke slipped form a fifth-place 82 to a second-day 89 that left her tied for ninth overall. Caty Beel (Tucson, Ariz) finished second for the Cardinals with a 191 (92-99), followed by Emily Nordstrom (Mendota Heights, Minn. / 99-96—195) and Dani Lynch (Williston, N.D. / 102-104—206).

"I was a little disappointed, because we did play well last week (placing 5th at the SMU Invitational), and had a good week of practice leading up to (the Small College Invite)," said SMU coach Dan Messmann. "We just aren't staying focused. Golf is such a mental game, and right now, we aren't keeping our heads in it for two straight days."