Men's Golf | April 29

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Junior Zach Place (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park HS) shot even par 72 to lead the Northern Illinois University men's golf team into fourth place after the first round of the Mid-American Conference Men's Golf Championship Friday at White Eagle Golf Club in Naperville, Illinois.

Place recorded three birdies and three bogeys and is tied for fourth in the individual race after the first 18 holes of the 54-hole event.

"Zach continued his great play from last week in Columbus," said head coach John Carlson. "He's been showing that his iron play has improved steadily over the spring. Zach continued to hit quality shots today, particularly on his approach shots. I feel like he's going to drive it even better tomorrow  and had the opportunity to play even better because of it."

As a team, the Huskies shot 300 and trail third-place Kent State by five strokes. Eastern Michigan leads the tournament by three strokes over Toledo after finishing at one-over par 289.  The Rockets sit at four-over 292, three strokes better than Kent State (295). NIU leads fifth-place Ball State by one stroke, followed by Bowling Green (305), Miami (306) and Ohio (308).

Place was backed up by senior Reece Nilsen (Tucson, Ariz./Catalina Foothills HS), who is tied for 11th after firing a two-over par 74 at the 7,065-yard White Eagle layout.  NIU freshman Ben Sluzas (Lockport, Ill./Lockport HS) parred the last seven holes to come in at four-over par 76 into a tie for 16th, while senior Tommy Dunsire (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central HS) was two strokes back at six-over 78, tied for 25th.

"We played a great back nine today in tougher winds than the front," Carlson said. "We just didn't get off to a solid start, particularly around the greens. With what the conditions may be tomorrow, that can be a benefit to us. Perfect conditions make it harder to get back in the mix. I feel we can get back in the hunt tomorrow and get back quickly."

EMU's Cougar Collins shot five-under par 67 to take the first-round lead by one stroke over Toledo's Barend Botha. Kent State's Chris Vandette was the only other player under par and is in third at one-under par 71. Place is in a group of five players tied for fourth.

The tournament continues Saturday and Sunday with Saturday's tee times moved up to start at 7:30 a.m. with the threat of rain in the forecast for Saturday afternoon and the event is open to the public.  Live scores are available at Golfstat.com and watch select holes of the tournament online at NIUHuskies.com.

-- NIU --