The Huskie women’s golf team may have ended their season on a somewhat sour note, but still own the bragging rights of tallying its best fall record ever.

With a grand total of 69 wins, six losses and one tie accumulated in six tournaments this season, NIU has much to be proud of.

And not once did the Huskies have the advantage of playing on their home course. The lone scheduled outing at the Oak Club of Genoa was cancelled because of rain two weekends ago.

Five of the Huskies’ six losses were handed to them this past weekend in the Iowa Hawkeye Invitational. NIU turned in a team total of 994 after 54 holes, which began with a devastating 340 in the opening round of play. They followed with a 322 and a 332.

“I thought we could have done much better in last weekend’s outing,” coach Pam Tyska said. “But, it definitely does not overshadow the good things we have done this season. I’m proud of the girls and I’m confident that we will rise again come this spring.”

The Huskies will continue light practicing through the month of October and then break from the greens until after Christmas vacation. From January until weather permits, the team will hit indoors.

Spring season for the NIU golfers begins with a trip to Florida over Spring Break. The Huskies will participate in a three-day tournament in Orlando and then move over to Tampa where they will be the host of another three-day outing.

NIU is looking to continue its success this spring in hopes of earning a berth in the NCAA tournament. Fall and spring records are both taken into account for invitations to this post-season outing.

“We play as full of a schedule as the NCAA rules allow,” Tyska said. “Which means we will be able to throw out our five highest rounds on the year. Three of those hopefully will come from this past weekend.”

If the Huskies are fortunate enough to earn a berth in the prestigious NCAA tournament, it would mark a milestone for Illinois golf clubs—no Illinois women’s team has ever been invited.

Though NIU did not have the advantage of playing on their home course this past fall, it may turn out to be an advantage for their upcoming season. The Huskies can now add one more outing onto the spring.

“We’re going to look at courses that won’t come up and bite us like Iowa’s course did,” Tyska said. “We’ll make sure the spring schedule gives us the opportunity to make our best finish ever. I am confident that we will be right up there again.”