March 11, 2006

SEBRING, FL -- Considering the advantage of having been able to practice and compete outside for weeks and weeks, it's not surprising to see so many Florida schools at the top of Northern Illinois University's Eighth Annual Springlake Invitational.

However, much to NIU women's golf coach Pam Tyska's delight, the Huskies were right there as well, finishing sixth in the 18-school field which completed the 36-hole tournament on Saturday (March 11). Friday's (March 10) opening round featured Northern Illinois' Lisa Bailey (Decatur / Warrensburg-Lathem) carding a school-low tourney round of 71 to serve as the foundation for NIU's best-ever team tally in the Springlake with a 300. On Saturday, the Huskies added a 307 in order to finish sixth with a 607 that was just three strokes shy of fifth-place Florida Gulf Coast University (604), but six ahead of Texas State University (613).

Florida's Lynn University trimmed a 304 down to 292 for a team-best 596 to capture first place by four strokes over Gonzaga University -- one of the few non-southern schools wrapping up its spring break tour -- with a 600. Other Florida schools included Nova Southeastern University -- which went from a first-place 293 to a 308 for a third-place finish at 601 followed by Barry University (299-304) in fourth with a 603, one stroke ahead of Florida Gulf Coast.

Individually, Texas State's Christine Brijalba chalked up rounds of 70 and 69 for a 139 in battling the 5,850-yard, par-72 Springlake Golf Course layout. That five-under-par total was comfortably ahead of a trio of golfers at 144 which included Nova Southeastern's Lina Bjorklund, Barry's Johanna Saderstrom, and Florida Gulf Coast's Brittany Bertilson.

Bailey added a 76 to her opening 71 for a Huskie-best 147 that placed her eighth individually with teammate Jackie Heslop (Pequot Lakes, MN) part of a seven-way tie for ninth with at 150 that was based on 18-hole rounds of 79 and 71. "I'm very proud of Lisa and Jackie for how well they competed, but I'm equally proud of the whole team," Tyska insisted. "Obviously, some of these schools have been outside a great deal longer and have an edge, but we had a great tourney that has us really looking forward to our next meet. It's awfully nice to come down here for spring break and know that we can be competitive, instead of just working on getting our game going."

The Huskies' Abbie Many (Mt. Prospect / Prospect) tied for 27th with her 154 that included a 74 and an 80 while Jackie Bailey (Decatur / Warrensburg-Lathem) was tied for 37th with her 156 (76-80). Nicci Schultz (Somonauk) rounded out NIU's contingent with a 159 after scoring 79 and 80.

Northern Illinois moves on to Tampa, FL, in order to host its 20th Annual NIU Snowbird Intercollegiate which is another 36-hole event scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday (March 15-16). The Huskies are hoping to make the 20th edition of the tourney a little more memorable by taking first place for only the second time since capturing the inaugural version of the event.

WOMEN'S GOLF -- Northern Illinois University's 8th Annual Springlake Invitational / at Springlake Golf Course / Sebring, FL / Course Info -- Par: 72 / Yardage: 5,850 / Final 36-Hole Results / Friday-Saturday / March 10-11, 2006

NIU'S 8TH ANNUAL SPRINGLAKE INVITATIONAL (at Sebring, FL / Springlake Golf Course / Par: 72 / Yardage: 5,850)

FINAL 36-HOLE TEAM STANDINGS: 1---Lynn (304-292) 596; 2---Gonzaga (306-294) 600; 3---Nova Southeastern (293-308) 601; 4---Barry (299-304) 603; 5---Florida Gulf Coast (299-305) 604; 6---Northern Illinois (300-307) 607; 7---Texas State (315-298) 613; 8---Wichita State (309-310) 619; 9---St. John's (317-304) 621; 10---Creighton (318-306) 624; 11---South Dakota State (316-309) 625; 12---Florida Institute of Technology (331-313) 644; 13---Evansville (333-312) 645; 14---Old Dominion (324-322) 646; 15---Missouri-Kansas City (326-328) 654; 16---Northern Iowa (328-330) 658; 17---North Dakota State (343-319) 662; 18---Boston University (345-350) 695.

TOP 20 INDIVIDUAL FINISHERS: 1---Christine Brijalba (Texas State) 70-69---139; 2--(Tie)--Lina Bjorklund (Nova Southeastern) 70-74---144 / Johanna Saderstrom (Barry) 67-77---144 / Brittany Berilson (Florida Gulf Coast) 68-76---144; 5--(Tie)--Daniela Jacobelli (Florida Tech) 71-74---145 / Elise Brandt (Lynn) 74-71---145; 7---Mary Kate Morgan (Gonzaga) 75-71---146; 8---Lisa Bailey (Northern Illinois) 71-76---147; 9--(Tie)--RemiJin Camping (Barry) 78-72---150 / Christin Thomson (St. John's) 77-73---150 / Jackie Heslop (Northern Illinois) 79-71---150 / Elisabeth Whitehouse (Lynn) 78-72---150 / Jennifer Swanson (Gonzaga) 76-74---150 / Katy McNicoll (Lynn) 78-72---150 / Nichole Lloyd (Wichita State) 75-75---150; 16--(Tie)--Alexis Garduno (Old Dominion) 76-76---151 / Brittany Lambertson (St. John's) 76-75---151 / Anne-Sophie Friis (Nova Southeastern) 73-78---151 / Cassie Sherron (Florida Gulf Coast) 77-74---151 / Crissy Higgins (Evansville-Individual) 76-75---151.

OTHER NIU SCORECARDS: T27---Abbie Many 74-80---154; T37--Jackie Bailey 76-80---156; T51---Nicci Schultz 79-80---159.

NEXT HUSKIE MEET: Wednesday-Thurday / March 15-16, 2006 -- NIU hosts the 20th Annual Snowbird Intercollegiate at Tampa, FL, 8 a.m.

(For further information, please contact Steve Nemeth) --NIU--

Northern Illinois University Women's Golf

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