RIVER HILLS, Wis. - The NIU men's golf team put together its most consistent 36-hole day of the season at Milwaukee Country Club Sunday, recording season-best scores of 292 in the first and second rounds in the Marquette Intercollegiate.

The Huskies closed the day in eighth place, two strokes shy of seventh place Wisconsin and nine strokes within the fourth, fifth and sixth place pack of Liberty, Marquette and SMU.

The team's consistent play pleased Director of Golf Tom Porten, who was proud of the team's ability to play through the elements on the course.

"Overall, I was very pleased with our effort today. It was an extremely wet golf course all day and this morning, we battled the elements well," said Porten. "As the weather improved this afternoon, we got off to a fast start but could not maintain the momentum into the final nine to stay with UCLA and Wisconsin.

"We have a good opportunity tomorrow to move up with a strong final round," he closed.

Senior Pierrick Fillon (Voreppe, France/Lycee Pierre Beghin) finished +4 on the day as he shot a 72 in the first and second rounds. Fillon carded five birdies and eagle to finish tied for 24th and lead the pack. 

Salvador Rocha (Mexico City, Mexico/American School Foundation) and Paul Schlimm (Shorewood, Ill./Saint Francis) followed for NIU as they both tied for 32nd through 36 holes. Rocha carded the best round of the day for Northern Illinois University with a 71 in the opening 18 holes.

"Individually, it was a good first day of college golf for Mike Mattas as he counted both rounds and Paul (Schlimm) is gaining consistency with each round he plays. Pierrick had a roller coaster day - lots of birdies and a few mistakes as well, but it was good to see him continuing to progress," Porten added. 

NIU and the rest of the 10 team field will close the tournament at 8 a.m., tomorrow morning.

TEAM SCORES
1. Northwestern - 283-277=560 (-3); 2. UCLA - 287-275=562 (+2); 3. Ole Miss - 287-277=564 (+4); 4. Liberty - 284-287=571 (+11); 5. SMU - 288-285=573 (+13); 6. Marquette - 290-285=575 (+15); 7. Wisconsin - 297-285=582 (+22); 8. NIU - 292-292=584 (+24); 9. Seton Hall - 294-293=587 (+27); 10. Valparaiso - 304-309=613 (+53)

NIU INDIVIDUALS
t24. Pierrick Fillon - 72-72=144 (+4); t32. Salvador Rocha - 71-75=146 (+6);t32. Paul Schlimm - 73-73    =146 (+6); t45.    Charlie Cameron - 77-73=150 (+10); t45. Michael Mattas - 76-74=150 (+10); t54. Russell Matos* - 75-79=154 (+14); t56. Jordan Less* - 74-81=155 (+15)

* - playing unattached