AUGUSTA, GA – The Northern Illinois University men's golf team is in 12th place after the first two rounds of the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational, hosted by Augusta University at Forest Hills Golf Club.
Senior Salvador Rocha (Mexico City, Mexico/American School Foundation) finished the day in a tie for 22nd at two-under par. After an opening round 74 in the morning, Rocha tied his career-low single round with a 68 in the second round. Rocha was two-over par through nine holes in his afternoon round, then birdied holes four and five to get to even. He then made par on the next two holes before making back-to-back birdies on eight and nine. Rocha put an exclamation point on his round by making eagle on the par-five 11th to close his round of 68.
Jordan Less (Elmhurst, Ill./York) had two rounds of even par 72 Saturday, putting him tied for 32nd. Russell Matos (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard South) is in a tie for 47th after rounds of 72 and 74 put him at two-over for the tournament. Paul Schlimm (Shorewood, Ill./St. Francis [Ill.]) rounded out the Huskies' scoring group with back-to-back two-over par 74s, which put him tied for 57th in the tournament.
"I was really proud of our effort today," said head coach Tom Porten. "With Thomas [DeMarco] struggling most of the day and Sal birdieless for his first 27 holes, we knew it would be a challenge. Jordan and Russ really helped us hang around until Sal got going late in his second round. We played our last six holes at six under par and that gave us a chance to close in on the rest of the field. I know Thomas will bounce back tomorrow and we have a great pairing with Notre Dame and Houston."
NIU combined for an even par 288 in the second round Saturday, an improvement of four strokes from the morning round. At +4, the Huskies are one shot ahead of UCF and six behind Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, and Houston who are tied for ninth.
Sunday's final round starts at 7:30 a.m. CT.
