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Women’s golf in third at Green Bay Invitational

September 11, 2012
Allie Parthie

Allie Parthie

Senior Allie Parthie is one of three golfers tied for the lead and paces the Northern Illinois University women’s golf team, which sits third, after the first round of the Green Bay Invitational Monday.

“We played well,” said NIU head coach Kim Kester. “They got some nerves out. You could tell some of them were nervous on the first hole, which is to be expected. I saw a lot of good stuff out there.

“One of the things the players mentioned was this course looks a lot easier after having played at Rich Harvest Farms. That’s what you like to see. You’ve given them a hard course [to practice on], now they’re thinking this is looking a lot easier than what they’re used to.”

Parthie shot an even par 73, posting a 37 on the front nine and a 36 on the back half. The Marinette, Wis. native is tied for first with two other competitors. The Huskies posted a 320 after the first round of play, 14 shot out of the lead and four shots behind second place Butler (316).

The Ellett sisters, Connie and Taylor, are tied for 14th place after the pair shot a 79 in their opening round of play. Both shot a 42 on the front nine and a 37 on the second half of the course. Casey LaBarbera (Marinette, Wis./Marinette) is tied for 53rd after shooting an 89, while Jenny Niemiec (St. Charles, Ill.) is tied for 55th after carding a 90.

Indianapolis leads the 11-team field with a 306, while North Dakota is right behind the Huskies with a 322. Chicago State (327) is fifth, Valparaiso (330) and Loyola, another Chicago-area team in seventh after scoring a 331.

The Huskies first round score is their best performance since the second round of the NIU Snowbird Intercollegiate where NIU also shot a 320. Kester feels the team’s play on the greens is going to be the key to success in the final round of play.

“We’ve got to make putts,” she said. “One of the girls had 40, another had 39. We need to get out putts to around 31. We gave away eight shots in the last three holes.”

For more information on NIU women’s golf and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.