SPRINGFIELD, MO – The Northern Illinois University men’s golf team opened its 2021 spring season this weekend with a 20-stroke win over the Missouri State Bears, 572-592, in a two-day dual match.
“It’s a really solid team victory from top to bottom in our lineup,” said head coach John Carlson. “We played two golf courses that we had not had a practice round at, which put us in the face of adversity and I was really proud of the way that they all handled that.”
Junior Tommy Dunsire (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) earned medalist honors for the dual after carding a five-under par 66 at Twin Oaks Country Club on Saturday. Dunsire birdied six straight holes and eight out of 10 before bogeys on each of the final two holes. He had an even par round of 72 on Friday at Highland Springs Country Club.
“His stretch of birdies is about as good as you’ll see ever in college golf,” Carlson said. “It was an unbelievable round. He put on a ball-striking clinic today and attacked the par-fives. Even though he bogeyed the last two holes, those were two of the three hardest holes on the course. His round of 66 really carried us today.”
With a 36-hole score of 138, the junior finished four strokes ahead of teammate Jordan Less (Elmhurst, Ill./York) and Missouri State’s Chris Obert for top honors. Less finished the 36 holes with a one-under par 142.
NIU built a five-stroke lead in Friday’s round at Highland Springs Country Club. Less was the Huskies’ low scorer on the day with a two-under par 70. Michael Mattas (Shorewood, Ill./St. Edward Central Catholic) and Tommy Dunsire (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) both carded even-par rounds of 72 as Reece Nilsen (Tucson, Ariz./Grand Canyon) rounded out NIU’s team score of 290 with a round of 76 as the Bears had a team score of 295.
The Huskies improved upon Friday’s team score by eight strokes Saturday. Along with Dunsire’s 66, sophomore Luc Warnock (Windsor, Ontario, Canada/E.J. LaJeunesse) had an even-par round of 71. Less posted a one-over par 72 and Nilsen had a 73 to put NIU at 282, two shots under par.
“The effort was tremendous by our guys both days,” said Carlson. “We went down to Birmingham, Ala. last weekend to prepare for this weekend’s match. I really felt like these guys came in here with the mindset that we were going to start our season off on a very positive note and we certainly did.”
The NIU men’s golf team is next in action March 8-9 at the Lamkin San Diego Classic at San Diego Country Club.
–NIU—
Team Results
NIU: 290-282 – 572 (E)
Missouri State: 295-297 – 592
NIU Individual Results
1. Tommy Dunsire 72-66 – 138 (-5)
2. Jordan Less 70-72 – 142 (-1)
4. Michael Mattas 72-75 – 147 (+4)
6. Reece Nilsen 76-73 – 149 (+6)
T7. Luc Warnock 79-71 – 150 (+7)
T10. Russell Matos 80-73 – 153 (+10)
T10. Zach Place 85-68 – 153 (+10)