KINGSLEY, Mich. The Northern Illinois men's golf team wrapped up its weekend at Michigan State's Spartan Classic by posting a 301 in the final 18 holes at The Kingsley Club, which dropped the Huskies one spot from where they entered the day to an eighth-place finish. The Huskies' three-round total score was an 883 as UC-Davis won the 14-team tournament with an 847.
"We played hard, we just didn't execute very well today with the wind," said NIU head coach Tom Porten. "The wind got us a little tentative and we can't do that at a course like this, especially with the tough pin placement today. We never like to give ground to our opponents, but overall I can't complain. We made some progress and it was good to see."
NIU sophomore Griffin Bauman led the squad with a 71 in the final round to give him a three round total of 214 (76-67-71). Junior Jeff Dick came in with a final round of 77 for a 224 (75-72-77) weekend total. Freshman Kurtis Luedtke shot an 80 in his final 18, giving him a 36-hole total of 225 (74-71-80). Freshman Paul Hammerschmidt finished Sunday's round with a 76 for 226-stroke (77-73-76) weekend tally and senior Matt Triplett shot a 77 in his final 18 holes to give him a total of 226 (79-70-77).
"It's great to get our season started at a wonderful golf course," said Porten of his first event as a Huskie. "The people at the Kingsley Club were gracious hosts. We are very young and inexperienced and it showed. But I was pleased with the effort and the players played hard all three rounds."
