On the one hand, the NIU men’s golf team finished in the upper half of the field for what has become a truly classic collegiate golf meet—the 22nd Annual Marshall University Invitational.

On the other hand, the Huskies could have finished even higher.

That thought left veteran men’s golf boss Jack Pheanis with mixed emotions after Friday and Saturday’s 54-hole tourney contested on the 6,389-yard, par-71 Guyan Golf and Country Club course.

Ohio State slipped past defending champion Kent State by one stroke, 872-873, while Louisville was third with 880 in the 18-school field. For OSU’s Buckeyes, it was the 12th Marshall championship crown.

NIU scored a 913 tally, nine strokes behind Mid-Continent Conference foe University of Akron and two strokes ahead of former Mid-American Conference rival University of Toledo.

Kent State’s Brian Bridges was the meet medalist thanks to a birdie on the second hole of a playoff with teammate Dave Morland and Marshall’s Jeff Moore.

All three finished regulation play with 214 tallies for 54 holes.

Mark Voeller was NIU’s individual leader with a 222 that tied him for 17th while Rick Stewart shared 30th thanks to a 227. Mike Briggs carded a 233 while Jason Samuelian posted a 236 despite a one-over-par second round. Chad Behrends finished at 241.

“Finishing in the top half of this field is great, but I think we could have been a few spots higher. We still have some work to do. Mark and Rick both had very good tourney efforts while Jason had a great second round,” Pheanis added.