ATHENS, Alabama - The Northern Illinois University men's golf team had one of it's top-five 18-hole scores since 1980 on Monday at the Mid-American Conference Men's Golf Championship, posting a nine-under par team score of 279 to move from sixth place to the tournament lead.

NIU got off to a fast start and quickly started passing the teams ahead of it. Campbell Wolf made five birdies on the front nine and was four-under par at the turn. Tommy Dunsire had four birdies on the front and moved into the tournament lead at four-under par. Zach Place made two eagles at the par-four sixth, as well as the par-four ninth, to make the turn at two-under par for the round and even par for the tournament. All told, the Huskies played the first nine holes Monday at eight-under par to go down to one-under par as a team and take a five-stroke lead over Kent State.
 
Place and Wolf finished the day as NIU's top-two scorers. Wolf carded his best round of the season with a four-under par 68. Place added three birdies to his card on the back nine and also finished with a 68. Both golfers wrapped up the day tied for third at two-under, climbing 13 positions up the leaderboard. They were two of the three golfers, along with Kash Bellar of Ball State, to post a tournament-low score of 68 on Monday.

Dunsire posted his second consecutive round under par with a two-under 70 which put him at -3 for the championship. He will enter Tuesday's final round in a tie atop the leaderboard with Central Michigan's Jeffrey Andrus, who posted an even par round of 72 Monday.

The final round of the MAC Championships is set for tomorrow with tee times beginnning at 9:00 a.m. ET // 8:00 a.m. CT Following the championships the All-Tournament Team, Golfer of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Kermit Blosser Coach of the Year, and Earl Yestingsmeier Sportsmanship Awards will be handed out.

For more information, visit our Men's Golf Championship Central page located HERE