Women’s golf opened the season in a big way by claiming a tie for second out of 16 at the Redbird Invitational.

Host Illinois State took the tournament crown, finishing with a third-round score of 910 (307-304-299). Redbird senior Brianna Cooper earned her second career Redbird Invitational crown when she carded a 218 (75-71-72).

NIU held the lead after the first day, hammering out a 604 (308-296), which was a program record for a 36-hole day.

“Overall, it was solid across the board,” said third-year head coach Kim Kester. “We stayed away from the big numbers; that’s what can get us in trouble, when you get a big number and you don’t rebound well.

“But, today they rebounded well. They found a way to make the best out of the situation. So, overall, it was very consistent. It’s always hard playing 36 holes right out of the gate your first tournament of the year; most of them haven’t walked 36.”

Five of the six golfers had previous experience at the Weibring Golf Club.

“The only one who didn’t see the course prior to the tournament was Lena [Gautier], but she picked up on it pretty good,” Kester said. “Everything was pretty much right in front. What you see is what you get. It was nice to have the familiarity of the course and the conditions and everything like that. To have a little bit of experience going in was a great thing.”

After the first day, NIU had two Huskies in the top 10: Gautier in third place and junior Connie Ellett in sixth place.

NIU did not follow up its stellar play with as much success. The Huskies’ 922 tied them with Butler for second place and was 12 strokes behind the champion Redbirds.

“We definitely left a bitter taste in our mouth[s], but we’re going to learn from it and come back strong the next time,” Ellett said.

The Huskies also finished higher in the standings than all four MAC competitors they saw over the two-day span.

Ellet and Gautier kept their top-seven status, finishing tied for sixth place out of 93 with a 227 carding (78, 73, 76) and (76 71, 80), respectively.

Junior Sam Coyne finished 18 spots behind the Huskies duo with a 232 (75, 80, 77). After posting sub 80’s in the first two rounds, sophomore Sydney Brickey concluded the invitational with an 85 in round three, finishing tied for 43rd with a 237.

Golfing as an individual, senior Casey LaBarbera notched a tie for 69th out of 93 with a 246 (82, 83, 81).

Senior Taylor Ellett rounded out the cardinal and black, finishing tied for 79th with a 249 (83 79 87).