By M

Sports Reporter

The NIU men’s golf team unofficially opened its season at Oak Club Golf Course with the annual Pro-Am fund raiser last Friday.

The day was filled with skill contests and a raffle along with lots of fun for everyone involved.

“We felt it was very successful,” said head coach Jack Pheanis. “We had a good turnout and everyone that played seemed like they had a good time, and it was a great day.”

The team itself, however, didn’t play. They handled the small but very necessary chores that accompanied the event, which included parking cars and handling the clubs.

Most of the pros are alumni that have been inducted into the NIU Hall of Fame. The likes of Mick Soally, Kelly Holmes and Brian King once again graced the course for NIU.

There were also many amateurs that were present to support the effort, including NIU athletic director Gerald O’Dell.

Because of the differences in the level of skill between the players, a scramble format was used. This is a system which allows a team of players to take the best ball out of the four hit and play their next shot from there.

Not only does this speed up the game but it makes for less lost balls and a lot more fun.

The money that was earned will help pay for scholarships established for deserving team members as well as easing air fare costs when the team travels to the many tournaments they will be competing in.

The three-time defending Mid-Continent Conference champions will be playing in tournaments that include the season opening trip to Murray, Ky., where the Huskies will be competing in the Murray State University Fall Invitational on Sept. 18-19, the Budget Invitational in Orlando, Fla., March 8-9 and the Palm Coast Intercollegiate Invitational in sunny Daytona Beach, Fla., March 12-14, hosted by Embry-Riddle University.