PHOENIX, Ariz. - Battling firm course conditions and difficult hole locations, the NIU men's golf team maintained its seventh place standing at the Grand Canyon Invitational, improving upon its second round score by one stroke with a 288. Huskie Thomas DeMarco finished with an even 143 to tie for 19th overall.

"It was all positive today. We fought hard through the course conditions and hole locations to hold our ground," said Director of Golf Tom Porten. "Thomas was steady all week and though Charlie and Jordan didn't have their "A" games today, they ground out some decent scores to help the team. It was satisfying to see Salvador come back with his best round of the tournament to lead us. We're making consistent progress and looking forward to Florida next week."

Sophomore Salvador Rocha carded 11 pars and four birdies in the final round to shoot -1 (70), his best score of the tournament. His under par round was the Huskies top performance of the day. 

DeMarco was not far behind with his even par 71, extending his streak to six-straight rounds at par or lower. He is -2 in his first six rounds as a Huskie. Charlie Cameron and Jordan Less accompanied their teammates in scoring as the senior captain posted a 73 (+2) while the freshman shot a 74 (+3). 

Less' three-round 216 (+3) was the team's second-best score and tied him for 27th while Cameron's 217 tied him for 30th. Rocha finished 59th.

The Huskies will return to action next Friday, March 24 for the FAU Slomin Autism Championship at PGA National Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Fla.

TEAM RESULTS: 1. No. 21 Duke - 287-269-273=829 (-23); 2. Grand Canyon - 279-283-273=835 (-17); 3. Eastern Michigan - 285-274-289=848 (-4); 4. Loyola Marymount - 276-286-289=851 (-1); 5. Utah Valley - 290-282-282=854 (+2); 6. Wichita State - 287-288-286=861 (+9); 7. NIU - 285-289-288=862 (+10); 8. Indiana - 288-282-295=865 (+13); t9. UMKC - 286-295-288=869 (+17); t9. Columbia - 287-295-287=869 (+17); 11. No. 21 Duke (B) - 293 287 291 871 (+19); 12. Columbia (B) - 284-291-300=875 (+23); 13. Southern Utah - 291-296-290=877 (+25); 14. South Dakota - 296-295-298=889 (+37); 15. Omaha - 303-302-291=896 (+44); 16. Cal State Bakersfield - 301-294-303=898 (+46)

TOP-10 INDIVIDUALS: 1. Billy Comeaux (GCU) - 67-68-68=203 (-10);t2. Jared Multer (EMU) - 69-66-69=204 (-9); t2. Alex Smalley (Duke) - 69-69-66=204 (-9); 4. Alexander Matlari (Duke) - 74-63-69=206 (-7); t5. Riley Elmes (LMU) - 67-70-71=208 (-5); t5. Beau Breault (EMU) - 72-66-70=208 (-5); t5. Jeremy Perna (CU) - 69-69-70=208 (-5); t5. Jake Chanen (GCU) - 71-70-67=208 (-5); four individuals tied for ninth (-4) 

NIU INDIVIDUALS: t19. Thomas DeMarco - 71-71-71=213 (E); t27. Jordan Less - 72-70-74=216 (+3); t30. Charlie Cameron - 69-75-73=217 (+4); t59. Salvador Rocha - 75-77-70=222 (+9);
t63. Matt Cholod - 73-73-77=223 (+10)