After a hot start to the tournament the women’s golf team finished the Cougar Classic in seventh place out of 13th teams.

NIU carded a 324 Tuesday to finish the tournament with a 638. Sophomore Samantha Coyne led the Huskies with a 153.

Coyne tied for eighth place out of 77 after posting a final round 78, making the Cougar Classic her first career top 10 finish. Coach Kim Kester felt Coyne played well in Chicago over the two-day span.

“She was tied for fifth going in. It was a overall great tournament for her,” Kester said. “That was her first time competing on the team portion in a tournament. I saw a lot of good things out of her. She managed her game very well, and she has a lot to look forward to.”

Coyne likes how things flowed for her during the tournament.

“Everything went right. I could not be happier,” Coyne said. “Monday I hit a lot of puts. I am happy how things turned out today. I just relaxed and everything went my way.”

After shooting a 157 (77-80), Taylor Ellett, playing as an individual, finished with a top 20 showing, placing 19th out of 77.

Sydney Brickey, NIU’s top finisher at the Red Bird Invitational, posted a 161 to finish 31st. Brickey opened up Monday with an 80 and had a final round score of 81.

Junior Casey LaBarbera and senior Jenny Niemiec ended the tournament tied for 32nd with a 162. Niemiec carded a 81 in both rounds, while LaBarbera opened up with a 78 and a final tournament round of 84.

Sophomore Connie Ellett rounded out the Huskies’ golfers with a 54th-place finish. She shot a 167 (82-85).

The Huskies take a two-week break before they head to the University of Missouri-Kansas City for the Kangaroo Fall Invitational on Sept. 30.