WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - After windy morning conditions, the NIU men's golf team bounced back six spots in the afternoon round to close the day in eighth place. Charlie Cameron led the Huskies with a 148 to tie for 17th, finishing +4 with a 71 in the opening round.
 
"It was a very tough but fair golf course today," said Director of Golf Tom Porten. "It took us awhile to adjust to the wind in the morning. Charlie was terrific, especially with his iron play. He was a good leader for the team and hit it close all day."
 
Northern Illinois University posted a 305 in the morning round, led by Cameron's 71, to finish ahead of Toledo in the round. After settling, the Huskies rallied as a team to shoot a 299 in the second round.
 
Thomas DeMarco carded a 71 in the second round to close first two rounds +8 in a tie for 39th with reigning Mid-American Conference Golfer of the Week Jordan Less. The freshman registered a 76 in the first and second rounds. As an individual, Paul Schlimm closed the day tied for 31st, shooting a par 72 in the morning.
 
"It was good to see Thomas bounce back after a difficult morning round," Porten continued. "He and Matt were very consistent hitting the fairways and greens and they helped us a bunch to get back in the middle of the pack.
 
"I like our fight the guys showed even when they were struggling to execute. They stayed positive and kept at it. We were fortunate in our pairings today with UCF and UNLV. I think we learned how efficient we need to be with our wedges to move in their direction," Porten closed.
 
NIU's afternoon rally brought the team within nine strokes of Northwestern and Wisconsin, both of whom tied for fifth after the first day of play.
 
With adverse conditions expected to continue today, the Huskies and the rest of the field will tee off in shotgun format at 7:45 a.m. Central. Fans can follow live scoring on BirdieFire.
 
TEAM RESULTS: 1. Kent State - 285-296=581 (+5); 2. Purdue - 294-293=587 (+11); 3. UNLV - 291-298=589 (+13); 4. UCF - 295-297=592 (+16); t5. Wisconsin - 293-302=595 (+19); t5. Northwestern - 301-294=595 (+19); 7. Ohio State - 301-301=602 (+26); 8. NIU - 305-299=604 (+28); t9. Indiana - 300-305=605 (+29); t9. Michigan State - 302-303=605 (+29); 11. Miami (OH) - 300-310=610 (+34); 12. Southern Illinois - 299-313=612 (+36); 13. Toledo - 307-309=616 (+40); 14. Michigan - 303-314=617 (+41); 15. Cincinnati - 301-317=618 (+42)
 
TOP-10 INDIVIDUALS: 1. Nick Robinson (UW) - 71-70=141 (-3); 2. Bjarki Petursson (KSU) - 73-69=142 (-2); 3. Austin Eoff (PUR) - 75-69=144 (E); t4. Josh Whalen (KSU) - 73-72=145 (+1); t4. Charlie Netzel (MSU) - 73-72=145 (+1); t6. Jordan Hahn (UW) - 69-77=146 (+2); t6. Timmy Hildebrand (PUR) - 71-75=146 (+2); t6. Gisli Sveinbergsson (KSU) - 69-77=146 (+2); t6. Daniel Wetterich (OSU) - 75-71=146 (+2); seven tied at 10th
 
NIU INDIVIDUALS: t17. Charlie Cameron - 71-77=148 (+4); t31. Paul Schlimm* - 72-79=151 (+7); t39. Jordan Less - 76-76=152 (+8); t39. Thomas DeMarco - 81-71=152 (+8); t50. Matt Cholod - 79-75=154 (+10); t71. Salvador Rocha - 79-79=158 (+14)
 
* - played as an individual