WINDSOR, Ontario – The Northern Illinois University men's golf program will be well-represented this weekend at the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada's Windsor Championship at Ambassador Golf Club. Rising senior Thomas DeMarco (LaSalle, Ontario) and 2013 graduate Bryce Emory will be in the field when the tournament tees off Thursday morning.
 
DeMarco received one of six sponsor's exemptions into the tournament field. In his recently completed junior season at NIU, DeMarco posted a 75.0 stroke average with two top-10 finishes and three other in the top-30. He carded a season-low 65 in the first round of the Northern Intercollegiate on Sept. 24. Having grown up in close proximity to Ambassador, DeMarco likes his chances this weekend.
 
"I've played the course maybe 30 or 40 times," said DeMarco. "It fits my game well. The course is a little longer with big fairways. If you can hit the ball hard and fairly straight off the tee, you'll have a lot of good looks at birdies. I like courses that are demanding off the tee. It fits my strengths."
 
With aspirations of becoming a professional golfer, DeMarco sees this weekend's tournament as a chance to see where his game is at and what he can improve.
 
"It's exciting, because there are a lot of former college players on this tour and it gives you a good idea of where your game is at," DeMarco added. "For me, it's more of a preview of where I need to be if I want to go pro."
 
Emory played his way into the Windsor Championship. On Monday, the former Huskie played in a qualifier with 129 other golfers for 10 remaining spots in the tournament field. After posting a round of four-under 66, Emory found himself tied for fifth with nine other golfers and heading to a playoff.
 
"I played great all day and didn't put myself in too many bad spots," Emory said of his round Monday. "I was in the third group out, so I had plenty of time to re-group before the playoff. We drew numbers out of a hat for the playing order, and I drew number one. At the second playoff hole, I hit a solid drive that led to the birdie that put me in the field."
 
Emory will be making his first appearance in a Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada event this weekend. He is currently 10^th all-time at NIU in career scoring average at 75.9.
 
Former volunteer assistant coach Jake Scott also qualified for the Windsor Championship Monday after three playoff holes.
 
The Windsor Championship begins play on Thursday, July 5^th. The field will be cut to the low 60 players and ties after Friday's second round.