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Women’s golf takes seventh at Cardinal Classic

September 23, 2012
Kim Kester

Kim Kester

The Northern Illinois University women’s golf team moved up the leaderboard, finishing seventh, after the final round of play Sunday at the Cardinal Classic at The Players Club.

The Huskies cut 17 strokes off their first score, posting a final round 316 to finish the tournament with a 649. Northern Illinois finished ahead of eighth place Ohio (655), who led NIU by five strokes heading into Sunday’s play.

Host school Ball State won the event with a 611, while the other Mid-American Conference school in the field, Western Michigan, took second with a 619.

Four of the five Huskies improved on their first round scores.

Freshmen Connie Ellett (Hampshire, Ill./Hampshire) was the top golfer for NIU, finishing fifth with a 153 (76-77). Jenny Niemiec (St. Charles, Ill.) moved up 11 spots after trimming eight strokes off her first round score to card a 164 (86-78).

Taylor Ellett (Hampshire, Ill./Hampshire) jumped 12 spots after shooting a final round 79 to finish 42nd with a 166. Teammate Casey LaBarbera (Marinette, Wis./Marinette) also finished in 42nd after posting a second round 82 finishing with a 166.

Senior Allie Parthie (Marinette,Wis./Marinette) finished 55th after scoring a 172 (87-85). Sam Coyne (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett), who was competing as an individual, finished 68th with a 178 (90-88).

Korakot Simsiriwong of Marshall was the medalist with a 151 after winning the playoff hole with Jenna Hague of Ball State.

“Overall, I’m happy with how everyone did today,” NIU head coach Kim Kester said. “Everyone got lower scores. It was good to see a couple MAC schools heading into the MAC Preview in a couple weeks.”

The Huskies return to the course Monday, Oct. 15, when NIU travels to Nashport, Ohio, to compete in 2012 Preview at Longaberger at Longaberger Golf Course.

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