Men's Golf | September 29

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. – The Northern Illinois University men's golf team finished in 11^th place at the Jim DeLapa Collegiate which wrapped up Monday morning at Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club.
 
"We played really solid golf this week, but we just got beat by better teams," said head coach John Carlson. "There were eight teams in the field that are perennially in the NCAA Regionals. This field will continue to get better because this course was the longtime host of the Western Amateur."
 
Sophomore Jack Mulligan (Burr Ridge, Ill./Hinsdale Central) was the Huskies' top finisher, tying for 19^th place with a 54-hole score of even par 210. Mulligan bounced back from an opening round 74 to post NIU's lowest single round score of the weekend with a 66 Sunday afternoon. The sophomore had six birdies on his scorecard and played his last nine holes at four-under par. He closed the tournament Monday with an even par 70.
 
"Jack drove the ball beautifully and was really able to be on the offensive," Carlson said. "His ball was in the fairway many times and he took advantage of his strong iron play. His 66 yesterday was one of the best scores of the tournament."
 
Reigning Mid-American Conference Co-Golfer of the Week Craig Long (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton) placed in the top-25. Long tied for 24^th with a one-over par 211. He was one of two Huskies to post a round under par in the first round Sunday morning with a 69. Long posted another 69 on Monday, NIU's lowest score in the final round.
 
Patrick Raupp (Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect) had NIU's lowest round in the opening round with a three-under par 67 that featured five birdies. He followed that up with rounds of 71 and 76 to finish tied for 34^th at +4.
 
NIU's best round as a team came in the first round Sunday. Led by Raupp's 67 and Long's 69 the Huskies were even par with a 280. The Huskies were three-over par in the second round and six-over on Monday, finishing at nine-over 549 for the tournament. NIU was one stroke behind Eastern Michigan for 10th place and three behind San Francisco for ninth. San Jose State won the event at -15, five strokes clear of second place Princeton.
 
"Our season will be defined by how good our off days are," said Carlson. "That is both from a shot-to-shot basis and by team score. Having to count a six-over today really changes your team score when the other three scores added up to even par. We had three guys play real solid golf this week, but at the Division I level you need all five players to be consistent."
 
The Huskies are next in action Oct. 13-14 at the Purdue Fall Invitational at Kampen-Cosler Course.
 
--NIU--
 
NIU Results
T-19. Jack Mulligan      74-66-70=210 (E)
T-24: Craig Long             69-73-69=211 (+1)
T-34: Patrick Raupp    67-71-76=214 (+4)
T-47: Devin Swoyer      72-73-71=216 (+6)
60. Conner McCall      72-74-77=223 (+13)
T-61. Beau Petersen   71-76-77=224 (+14)