DEKALB, Ill. – The NIU men's golf team is back in action this weekend, taking part in the Grand Canyon University Invitational hosted by Grand Canyon at the GCU Golf Course.
 
Tournament: Grand Canyon Invitational
Location: Phoenix, Ariz.
Course: GCU Golf Course
Format: 54 holes
Start Times: 10 a.m. CST shotgun starts
Par: 71
Yardage: 7,239 yards
 
Field (15)
NIU, Grand Canyon, Missouri, Long Beach State, Wichita State, UMKC, Western Carolina, Pacific, North Dakota State, Columbia, Drake, Hawaii, Omaha, Cal State Northridge, UC Riverside
 
Lineup
1. Thomas DeMarco; 2. Jordan Less; 3. Joo-Young Lee; 4. Salvador Rocha; 5. Matt Cholod
 
 
Rocha Rocks At Jackrabbit Invitational
Salvador Rocha had his best finish and lowest tournament score of the season last weekend, tying for 21^st at the Jackrabbit Invitational hosted by South Dakota State at Boulder Creek Golf Club. The junior finished the tournament at +2 with an overall score of 218. Rocha went under par for the third time this season in his opening round, posting a one-under 71 on Friday morning with four birdies. He closed the tournament with a round of even par 72 on Saturday, with birdies on two of the last four holes to get back to even for the day. His previous best finish this season was tied for 35^th at the season-opening Inverness Intercollegiate.
 
"Last weekend was the product of hard work from Sal," said director of golf Tom Porten. "He's always had a reasonably good short game and good hands, but is sometimes focusing on other things. He got back some of the skill and nuance of his short game, and kept the ball in play last week and gave himself chances at pars and birdies that he converted. Sal had a good practice round Wednesday and this could be a chance for him to move into the top three in the lineup."
 
Double Eagle
Thomas DeMarco and Jordan Less both had an eagle during the final round of the Jackrabbit Invitational last Saturday. DeMarco eagled the par-five 14^th and added three more birdies on his way to a two-under 70, his best round of the weekend. Less' eagle on the par-five seventh capped his best round of the tournament, a two-over 74.
 
NIU at the Grand Canyon University Invitational
The Huskies finished seventh out of 16 teams in last season's Grand Canyon Invitational. Thomas DeMarco was NIU's top finisher, carding three consecutive rounds of even par 71 to tie for 19^th. Jordan Less also finished in the top-30, tying for 27^th at +3. Salvador Rocha carded a one-under 70 in his final round last season and finished +9. The Huskies were +10 for the tournament, one stroke behind Wichita State and three ahead of Indiana.
 
"If we could get Sal and Joo-Young Lee back into form, and with Jordan and Thomas' consistency, we would be in a good spot," Porten said. "I know they're excited about this golf course and are more comfortable with the look of it. It's more of a parkland course that we're used to with trees and bunkers. I like our chances to be competitive this weekend."
 
Next Up
After a week off, NIU will play in the Illinois State Redbird Invitational March 31-April 1.
 
--NIU--