Oct. 14, 2012

DEKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois men's golf team will travel to Muncie, Ind., on Monday, Oct. 15 and Tuesday, Oct. 16 for Ball State's Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational. Unlike most tournaments on NIU's schedule, this event will be an individual competition only; no team standings will be kept.

Joining NIU and Ball State at Delaware Country Club will be a contingent of programs from the area.  The field also includes Bowling Green, Indiana, IUPUI, Notre Dame, Ohio and Toledo

“It is a unique event, being an individual stroke play format rather than a team scoring format,” said NIU head coach Tom Porten. “I’m excited to see how Greg (Pohlmann), Nick (Huggins) and Matt (Gorman) play, as well as Connor (Nelson), playing in his first college tournament. From what I understand the greens are very firm and the fairways have just been aerated, as a result the course will play a little bit like a British Open course this week.”

Senior Matt Gorman (Waunakee, Wis./Waunakee) will be making his second-straight start after finishing in a tie for 56th at the John Dallio Memorial. Sophomore Nick Huggins (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta) will make his third appearance of the fall for NIU. Huggins played in the Wolf Run Intercollegiate and the D.A. Weibring Intercollegiate earlier this fall.

Also making his third appearance this fall will be senior Greg Pohlmann (Decatur, Ill./Lakeview/Iowa Western CC). Pohlmann returns to the lineup after competing in the first two events of the fall, the Northern Intercollegiate, where he finished in a tie for 46th, and the Wolf Run Intercollegiate.

Freshman Connor Nelson (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegh) will also be in the lineup for the Huskies, Nelson is making the first start of his collegiate career.

The Huskies will be challenging an unusual foe in Delaware Country Club.  The layout is older and shorter than any course the Huskies will play this year. Built in 1910, Delaware will be extended to 6,438 yards play to par 70 this weekend. Like most 102-year-old courses, Delaware places an emphasis on shot-making and putting as opposed to raw power.

Play will begin with 36 holes on Monday, opening with a 9 a.m. shotgun start, then a final 18 on Tuesday, again with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.