NIU Ladies Open Spring Schedule

The Northern Illinois University women's golf team will open the spring portion of their 2008-09 schedule today when NIU plays host to four other schools at the 11th Annual Spring Lake Intercollegiate at Spring Lake Golf Resort & Country Club.

The ladies will tee off to a shotgun start on Panther at 9 a.m. today and Saturday.

"We are so looking forward to the opportunity to get outside and get some practice on green grass as well as the opening of our spring season," said NIU head coach Pam Tyska. "We have a much smaller field at Spring Lake this year, but have a big increase in the second event we host in Tampa a few days later."

Joining NIU will be last year's co-champions Florida Gulf Coast University and Lynn University, Loyola University-Chicago and Methodist University. Methodist University, has won the Division III championships every year but two since 1986. The last time they competed at Spring Lake was in 2007 when they were crowned team champions. All five teams will play 18 holes each day and admission is free.

"Methodist is the perennial power in D-III women's golf," Tyska said. "They return one player from their last Spring Lake victory and will also be at the top of the leader board."

The Huskies will be looking to improve on last year's sixth-place performance, but will be without the services of their top finisher from 2008, Jessica Parmenter. She led the way for the Huskies, tying for seventh after posting a 159. Parmenter and Devon Harteneck will miss this year's tournament due to injury. Leading the way for NIU will be Kim Hunley, who tied for 20th last season after shooting a final round 83 to finish with a two-day total of 163.

The Spring Lake Intercollegiate, the first of two tournaments NIU will host in Florida, will be the first action the Huskies have seen since taking fourth place at the Huskie Classic in October. It will also give the Huskies a chance to even the score with one of their opponents from the fall. Loyola took first place at the Huskie Classic, posting a 639, while NIU came in fourth after shooting a 642 and Loyola's Nikki Miller of won the event after carding a 155. Hunley was NIU's top finisher, tying for second with Loyola's Lauren Oh, shooting a 156.

All the competitors at Spring Lake will be chasing Lynn University's Maha Haddioui who will be returning to defend her title. Haddioui won last year's event, tying for first place with Heather Hagerman of Florida Gulf Coast, after shooting a 150. Hagerman will also be present at the event, but as an assistant coach for her alma mater.

SPRING LAKE INTERCOLLEGIATE

at Panther Run Course, Sebring

TODAY 9 a.m. shotgun start

SATURDAY 9 a.m. shotgun start

COST Free

See Monday's Highlands Today for complete coverage the tourney, including photos and reaction.