March 11, 2010

Final Results in PDF Format

TAMPLA, Fla. - The Northern Illinois women's golf team improved two spots to finish in fourth place at the NIU Snowbird Intercollegiate, Thursday at Pebble Creek Golf and Country Club.

"It's great to see our team jumping past people in the final round," Tyska said. "Finishing strong is one of the things we've focused on."

Paced by seventh place finish by Kim Hunley (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora), the Huskies advanced from sixth place at the end of day one up to fourth. Hunley shot an 81 over the final 18 holes in the face of rainy conditions that extended the tournament's final round to more than six hours. For the tournament, Hunley shot a 161.

"Kim played well considering the conditions, but I know she feels like she can shoot five or six strokes better," Tyksa said.

Junior Jessica Parmenter (Peoria, Ill./Peoria Christian) also finished in the top-10. Parmenter carded an 84 on the day to finish with two-round total of 162 and place ninth.

"I'm very proud of Jessica to fight through such difficult conditions after recovering from a pretty severe back injury in the fall,' Tyska said.

Methodist held on to their first place position from round one to win the tournament with a 645. They were followed by Indiana State, Youngstown State in second and third. The Huskies carded a team score of 667, counting second-round scores of 87 from Michelle Caporusso (Mt. Prospect, Ill./Prospect) and Kim Bailey (Gibson City, IL/Gibson City-Melvin Sibley).

Caporusso's score was a three-stroke improvement over her opening round. Mandi Vavrinchik (Elmhurst, Ill./York) also lowered her score by three in the second 18, dropping from a 92 to an 89. The improved scoring was especially impressive considering the rapidly changing conditions at Pebble Creek.

Competing as individuals, NIU's Allie Parthie (Marinetta, Wis./Marinetta) and Kelsie Passolt (Hayward, Wis./Hayward) finished 43rd and 47th, respectively. Parthie scored an 89 after an opening round 91. Passolt finished with a two-round score of 182.

"Right as we finished, the heavens just opened up and poured on the course," Tyska said. "It was like that throughout the day, and we were playing a lot more than the course in condition like that."

The Huskies will hope for better weather when they resume competition at the Claud Jacobs Intercollegiate, March 14-15, in Victoria, Texas.