With five returning players and three promising freshmen, the NIU women’s golf team holds high hopes for its fall season opener this weekend at the Veenker Memorial Golf Course.

The Huskies will head for Ames, Iowa, to tee off in the Iowa State University Cyclone Golf Classic, held Saturday and Sunday. A field of 12 will compete in the tournament.

“This is definitely the most difficult course on our schedule,” Head coach Pam Tyska said. “Iowa State always plays great on their home course, and the competition is going to be tough.”

NIU’s top returner, senior Nicole Jeray, will bring with her a summer filled with much success. Jeray, 20, competed in the LPGA/Chicago Sun-Times Shootout where she just missed the cut. She also reached the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur Public Links tournament and the quarterfinals of the Western Amateur.

Jeray will be joined this fall by fellow senior Chantel Scherer, and juniors Jen Hall and Kim Hodge. Rounding out the underclassmen are sophomore Karen Bromberg, and freshmen Amanda Mokelke, Samantha Thompson, and Shelley Wendels.

“We had the best season ever last fall(72-8-1),” said Tyska, who begins her sixth season. “But I’m confident that if our three freshmen make the needed adjustments and handle the pressure, we could do it again.”

As if adjusting to college and to the pressures of playing a collegiate sport were not enough, Thompson must also adapt to the United States.

While it is summer here in DeKalb, and golf is in full swing, Thompson’s hometown of Victory, Australia is in the midst of its winter season. “She’s had to adjust not only to different seasons but different courses as well,” Tyska said.

With six consecutive weekends of play ahead, the Huskies will soon know where they stand. With the leadership of Jeray and the strong backing behind her, one should not doubt the Huskies success.