NIU men’s golf team will host the MAC Championships at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill..

The Huskies are coming off a seventh place finish at the Boilermaker Invitational last weekend.

NIU coach Tom Porten said due to the tournament being a home event, the Huskies feel they have the upper hand since they know the course so well, even though it is one of the toughest.

“It is always great to play on your home course,” Porten said. “We know it better certainly more than any other team. Rich Harvest is probably the hardest golf course teams will play all year because we practice on it virtually everyday. We know what this course can do.”

The Huskies have had their ups and downs this season, with five top five places. Their last top five finish came at the COG Mizzou Intercollegiate. Yet success has also come with heartbreak, as NIU has finished seventh of worse in six tournaments.

Last year at the MAC Championships, NIU finished in sixth place while Kent State walked away with the trophy.

Porten said he doesn’t like to single out one specific player, but one of his freshman have caught his attention.

“I don’t want to single one player out from everyone else, but obviously Thomas Dunne has had a good spring,” Porten said. “Dunne is a candidate for freshmen of the year. Thomas is certainly a player you will want to watch play in his first MAC Championship.”

Rich Harvest Farms hosted the 2007 NCAA Central Regional Men’s Golf Championships and was the 2009 site of the Solheim Cup USA vs. Europe matches.

“It would be great for the fans to come out to support us, and also, it is free to the public,” Porten said. “I would love to see them at the course and cheer the Huskies on and hopefully win a MAC Championship.”