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Golfer Lena Gautier takes first at Diane Thomason Invitational

October 5, 2014
NIU’s Lena Gautier (right) and Illinois’ Dana Gattone

NIU’s Lena Gautier (right) and Illinois’ Dana Gattone

Northern Illinois University women’s golfer Lena Gautier finished in first place and was named co-champion of the Diane Thomason Invitational as the Huskies finished in sixth after the final round of play Sunday.

The sophomore from La Celle Saint Cloud, France finished with a 226 after following up here first day total of 151 with a final round 75. She tied with Illinois’ Dana Gattone as the tournament winner. Gautier is the first Huskie to win a tournament since Kim Hunley took first at the 2009 Huskie Classic.

“Overall, it was a great team effort,” Kim Kester said of the team’s performance. “The conditions were a lot better today than they were yesterday. There were more scoreable holes today Yesterday drained us pretty good. It was nice to see us rebound off a tough day like that and play extremely well.”

NIU posted the second lowest score of the day, shooting a 302 to finish the tournament with a 943, four shots out of fifth place and 22 shots behind team champion Illinois.

Junior Connie Ellett (Hampshire, Ill./Hampshire) and sophomore Sydney Brickey (Burtchville, Mich./Shattuck-St. Mary’s) made marked improvements on Sunday as both shot a final round 75. Ellett moved up three spots to 17th with a 235, while Brickey jumped 15 places to 26th with a 239.

Junior Samantha Coyne (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) moved up five places to 43rd after her final round 77 helped to give her a three-round total of 243. Freshman Hayley Mortensen (Tualatin, Ore/Tualatin) carded a two-day total of 251 (84-83-84) to finish in 59th place.

The Huskies return to the course Friday, Oct. 17, to compete in the Hoosier Fall Invitational. Tee time is set for 8 a.m. CT. For more information on NIU women’s golf and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.