CHICAGO – Battling frigid crosswinds on the hilltop of Beverly Country Club in the morning round, the NIU men's golf team rallied in the second round of the day to finish tied for fifth in the team standings of the Northern Intercollegiate. The Huskies, led by
Paul Schlimm's 73 in the second round, shot 299 as a team – the third-best score of the round.
"I liked the way we battled coming in and our fight in the last 12 holes across the board after a tough morning," said Director of Golf
Tom Porten. "Paul was especially good this afternoon, finishing the round with 11-straight pars. Liked our fight to the finish and what tomorrow could bring but we have a lot of work to be done to get ourselves off to a better start."
Schlimm (Shorewood, Ill./Saint Francis), who shot a 76 in his first 18 holes, bounced back with solid golf in the second round. Opening his round with his first birdie of the day, Schlimm closed the round with 13 pars in his final 14 holes to shoot a 73 (+2). The sophomore transfer closed the day tied for 15th.
Salvador Rocha (Mexico City, Mexico/American School Foundation) joined Schlimm at the top of NIU's scoresheet, shooting a 73 (+2) as he finished the round -2 in his final 15 holes. Rocha moved into a tie for 26th with his effort, one stroke behind
Pierrick Fillon's (Voreppe, France/Lycee Pierre Beghin) consistent 152 (+10) who tied for 24th through the first day of the competition.
Illinois, the nation's No. 1 ranked team, closed the day -10 and 39 strokes ahead of second-place Marquette as a team.
NIU will close the Northern Intercollegiate tomorrow at 7:45 a.m., teeing off with Drake and SIUE on the first hole of Beverly Country Club.
DAY ONE TEAM RESULTS:
1. Illinois – 277-281=558 (-10); 2. Marquette – 297-300=597 (+29); 3. Indiana – 299-299=598 (+30); 4. Drake – 302-304=606 (+38); t5. NIU – 310-299=609 (+41); t5. SIUE – 307-302=609 (+41); 7. Bradley – 317-293=610 (+42); 8. Grand Canyon – 304-308=612 (+44); 9. Loyola (Chicago) – 318-308=626 (+58); 10. Western Illinois – 314-317=631 (+63); 11. North Dakota – 315-317=632 (+64); 12. Youngstown State – 313-323=636 (+68)
NIU INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:
t15.
Paul Schlimm – 76-73=149 (+7); t24.
Pierrick Fillon – 77-75=152 (+10); t26.
Salvador Rocha – 80-73=153 (+11); t35.
Charlie Cameron – 78-78=156 (+14); t35.
Russell Matos* – 72-84=156 (+14); t39.
Raphael Denais – 78-79=157 (+15); t46.
Jordan Less – 79-79=158 (+16); t64.
Michael Mattas* - 84-80=173 (+31)
* - Played as an individual
