Things could have been worse for the NIU men’s golf team this weekend.

In the 21-team Marshall University Invitational field, the Huskies finished in the No. 20 spot—one stroke better than last-place contestant Ball State.

“At least we got out of the cellar,” NIU head golf coach Jack Pheanis said, regarding his team’s finish in the 54-hole tourney held at Guyan Golf and Country Club in Huntington, W. Va.

At the completion of the tournament, Kent State mastered the 6,389-yard, par 71 layout and took first-place honors with a 875 total. Dave Morland of Kent State finished as the low individual by firing rounds of 76-71-76 for 213 total.

NIU’s contingent was led by Rick Stewart (77-76-75, 228), while Mark Voeller finshed as the No.2 Huskie with rounds of 76-82-76 for a 234 mark.

Other Huskies competing were Mike Briggs (237), Chad Behrends (239), and Brian King (82-83-77).

Following Kent State’s total were Miami (Ohio) and Louisville (883), Wright State (884), Marshall (887), Ohio State (892), Toledo (894), Illinois (897), Murray State (903), Western Kentucky (905), Kentucky (910), Eastern Kentucky (911), Akron and Michigan State (912), Eastern Michigan (913), Bowling Green (920), Michigan (921), Ohio (926), Indiana (927), NIU (928), and Ball State (929).

NIU returns east for next Friday-Saturday’s University of Akron Firestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club.