BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Western Michigan golf team opened 2016 with a split at the Mid-American Match Play at Royal Lakes Golf Course on Monday. The Broncos defeated IPFW 5-0 and then tied Northern Illinois 2-2-1 but the Huskies took the tie-breaker after winning six holes to WMU's five.

None of the matches against the Mastodons made it to 18 holes with Julia Champion, Claire Hernandez, Kaitlyn Watkins, Sarah White, and Chloe Lawrie making quick work of their opponents. Lawrie went 4 & 5, White went and Hernandez both went 5 & 4 over their opponents, while Champion went 4 & 1, and Watkins finished 2 & 1.

Against NIU Champion finished 2 up and Lawrie finished 3 & 2. Hernandez tied with NIU's Connie Ellett.

"We played well today and we didn't beat ourselves," said head coach Stacy Snider. "NIU made two huge puts on 18 to force the tie and unfortunately we ended up on the wrong side of it. All five matches were really good and we learned that putting is everything."

The Broncos are back in action on Tuesday morning when they face off against Florida Gulf Coast.