Concentration and patience prevailed for the NIU women’s golf team over the weekend, and the traits earned the linksters a second-place finish at the 15-team University of Indiana Invitational.

Adverse weather conditions hampered the play of the entire field. Saturday’s opening round was greeted with cold temperatures and wet conditions. Sunday’s final round was played under the sun, but brisk winds kept the players’ games in check.

The Huskies put together rounds of 331 and 327 for the two days and came up 30 shots short of tournament-champion Indiana (310-310, 620).

“I am so pleased with the way we played this weekend, especially the way we slipped by Iowa on Sunday to finish second,” said women’s golf coach Pam Tyska. “Each of our players knew what she had to do to be better after Saturday’s rain-delayed round. They went out and improved their play, caught Iowa and lessened the gap with Indiana.”

NIU finished well ahead of state rivals Illinois, Southern Illinois and Illinois State. The Huskies also finished ahead of all but one of the seven Big Ten schools in the field.

Laura Schiebach took top Huskie honors with a 160 total, and placed ninth overall in the individual standings.

However, the NIU men’s golf team didn’t fare too well in the inclement weather. In a rain-shortened Marshall University Invitational, NIU finished 17th among the 18 teams in the tourney.

Huskie Chad Behrends put together rounds of 72 and 80 to lead the Huskies, while Rick Stewart contributed to the NIU cause with scores of 79 and 76. Miami’s (Ohio) Sean Gorgone took medalist honors for the tournament by putting together stellar rounds of 71 and 69 for a 140.

“This is really frustrating because we really played our best 18-hole round this spring,” said men’s coach Jack Pheanis. “The kids played well under some tough conditions. It just convinces me more that we have talent, we just need a break.”