KENNESAW, Ga. - Sophomore Salvador Rocha (Mexico City, Mexico/American School Foundation) paced the NIU men's golf team Monday, shooting +4 through two rounds to close the day in a tie for 15th at the Pinetree Intercollegiate.

"Sal was excellent today. He was a few putts away from being even par in the second round and he had a very good game plan, followed by better execution," said Director of Golf Tom Porten.

"As a team, our wedge play was very poor. We were 10 over par with our wedges into the short par fours and that has to get better tomorrow if we want to move up. We want to end the fall on a high note so I expect our guys to come out strong tomorrow and play well," he added.

Rocha opened the day with a 75 in the first round, carding one birdie and 13 pars in the round. The Huskies No. 5 player in the lineup shot even par with two birdies on the front nine before birdieing the 18th hole to shoot a 73 (+1) in the second round.

His 73 tied his lowest score to par this season, matching his 71 in the opening round of the Marquette Intercollegiate on Oct. 2. Senior Charlie Cameron (Canberra, Australia/Tyler J.C.) shot the Huskies second-lowest round of the day as he carded a 74 (+3) in the opening round with 13 pars and two birdies.

The Huskies sit in 10th place after the first day of competition with only two strokes separating themselves from eighth place Mercer and one stroke of Marshall in ninth place.  

Northern Illinois University will close their fall season tomorrow morning at the Pinetree Country Club. The Huskies first group, featuring Rocha, will tee off at 7:20 a.m. Central. NIU will play alongside Colgate and unattached individuals.

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Iowa State - 299-281=580 (+4); 2. Kennesaw State - 287-295=582 (+6); 3. Central Arkansas - 295-288=583 (+7); 4. Arkansas State - 301-288=589 (+13); 5. Jacksonville State - 298-293=591 (+15); 6. Belmont - 301-301=602 (+26); 7. Southern Illinois - 292-315=607 (+31); 8. Mercer - 310-306=616  +40; 9. Marshall - 314-303=617 (+41); 10. NIU - 309-309=618 (+42); 11. Colgate - 322-312=634 (+58)

NIU INDIVIDUALS
t15. Salvador Rocha - 75-73=148 (+4); t38. Charlie Cameron - 74-81=155 (+11); t42. Raphael Denais - 79-77=156 (+12); t50. Paul Schlimm - 81-78=159 (+15); t60. Pierrick Fillon - 82-82=164 (+20)