If Iowa and cornfields are two terms that go hand-in-hand, how does NIU’s women’s golf team and cream of the crop sound?

The Huskies, trailing by two strokes after Saturday’s round, shot a tournament low 312 yesterday to win the Iowa State Cyclone Golf Classic.

NIU claimed the victory by shooting a two-day total of 627, nine strokes better than second-place finisher University of Nebraska. University of Missouri finished third with a weekend total of 652.

Tournament host and defending champion, Iowa State provided the shocker of the weekend. The Cyclones finished seventh with a 671.

“This is a big win for us,” Head coach Pam Tyska said. “I’m really proud of the girls and consider us one of the best teams in the Midwest.”

Senior Nicole Jeray, who competed in two LPGA tournaments this summer, shot a tourney-best 73 on day two to earn her medalist honors with a 151. Jeray edged out Nebraska’s standout Joann Brooks, who finished second with a 152.

Three NIU linksters finished in the top 10. Junior Kim Hodge finished three strokes behind Jeray at 154, to give her third place honors while freshman Shelley Wendels shot 158, finishing sixth.

“Kim did a super job this weekend,” Tyska said. “And Shelley was incredible. Conditions were not optimal but the girls played with poise and intensity.”

A two-hour rain delay Sunday morning pushed play back and created windy conditions for the players. Considering that Tyska called Iowa State’s golf course “the most difficult course on the schedule,” only adds more to the Huskies’ victory.

“Iowa State’s course is a real unforgiving course, and it takes extra time to prepare,” Tyska said. “We had to fight back from adversity, and we proved we could do it. It was a total team effort.”

NIU travels to Normal, Ill. this weekend to compete in the Illinois State University Fall Redbird Invitational. The Huskies will try to defend its title, having won last year’s tournament with a 630.