April 4, 2007

Urbana, Ill.--The Northern Illinois women's golf team returns to the Midwest after a strong second-place showing at the NIU Snowbird Intercollegiate to compete in the Illini Spring Classic on April 6th and 7th at the Stone Creek Golf Club (par 72, 6,244 yards) in Urbana, Ill.

The 16-team event will be hosted by the University of Illinois and for the first time since 1991, 54 holes will be played. The Illini Spring Classic has been a 36-hole tournament for the last 14 years.

Even though the weather forecast projects the temperatures to be in the 30 to 40 degree range this weekend, NIU head coach Pam Tyska looks forward to the 16-team tournament.

"We always look forward to competing at the Stone Creek Golf Club," Tyska said. "The course has much of the same features as Whisper Creek [Golf Club], the course we play the majority of our qualifying rounds during the year as well as our Huskie Classic tournament.

"Since returning from sunny Florida a couple weeks ago, we have been practicing in every type of weather condition," says Tyska. "We are confident and prepared for what may be ahead."

Abbie Many (Mt. Prospect, Ill.) and Lisa Bailey (Decatur, Ill.) continue to lead the Huskies, as both earned co-medalist honors at the NIU Snowbird Intercollegiate last March.

The 16-team field consists of Bowling Green, Bradley, Cincinnati, Eastern Illinois, Ferris State, Grand Valley State, Illinois, Illinois State, Illinois Wesleyan, Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, Toledo, Western Illinois, Western Michigan, College of William and Mary and Xavier.

Please note that 36 holes will be played on the first day starting at 8:00 am (CDT) and the remaining 18 holes will be played on the second day starting at 8:30 am (CDT). Both days will have a shotgun start.

--NIU--