Griffin Bauman
The Northern Illinois men’s golf team concluded play Sunday in the season-opening Northern Intercollegiate at Rich Harvest Farms.
Senior Griffin Bauman (Crystal Lake, Ill./Central) led the way for the Huskies with a top-30 finish individually while the Huskies claimed 11th in the team competition.
Virginia’s Denny McCarthy took home individual medalist honors with a 54-hole total of 216 (+3) and Indiana claimed the team title with a score of 888 (+36), the only school to break 900 in the three round event.
“It is always nice to be able to open the season at home, unfortunately we just weren’t able to play very well,” said NIU head coach Tom Porten.
“Golf is a funny game sometimes and sometimes you just need to have a short memory. We just never got on track this weekend, Griffin Bauman was our lone bright spot and he would still probably be disappointed in the way he played,” Porten added.
“Rich Harvest Farms is the type of golf course that breaks down the elements of your game that aren’t ready and unfortunately we just weren’t ready to execute this weekend. Credit to Indiana, their players and coach Mike Mayer, for outplaying a very good field this weekend. It is very early in the season and we have work to do to get ready to play at another quality course in Wolf Run (Golf Club) next weekend.”
For the second time in the weekend’s three rounds, Bauman carded the low round for the Huskies, turning in a 77 for a 54-hole total of 233, tied for 29th for the tournament. Bauman recorded three consecutive birdies on his back nine, the front nine for the tournament, finishing strong with a 36 (+1) in his final nine holes.
Junior Shawn Foley (Pewaukee, Wis./Waukesha North) and sophomore Nick Schiavi (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) each finished the tournament with their best round of the 54-hole event. Foley finished the event with a 78, including a one-over 36 on the front nine, and Schiavi carded a final round 79, including an eagle on the par-five seventh.
“Despite the outcome for us, we are grateful to the Rich Family for allowing us to host such a quality field of top teams at Rich Harvest Farms,” Porten said. “It was an excellent opportunity for us to play with many very good teams as we continue to build a strong schedule.”
NIU returns to play Saturday, Sept. 15, and Sunday, Sept. 16, when the Huskies compete in the Wolf Run Intercollegiate at Wolf Run Golf Club in Zionsville, Ind.
For more information on NIU men’s golf and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
