WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — The Northern Michigan University golf teams kicked off their spring season with a trip to Florida for the three-day Saddlebrook Spring Kickoff that ended Saturday.

The men’s team finished as runner-up with 957 in their four-school meet, while the NMU women were sixth with 1,047.

Ferris State hosted the meet that included GLIAC schools Ashland and Purdue Northwest in the men’s meet. The Ferris men won with 920.

Seven women’s teams competed — NMU, Purdue Northwest, Ferris, Tiffin, Walsh, McKendree and Marian, Indiana. Tiffin won with 955.

Chris Black led the Wildcat men, finishing fifth overall with 236, or plus-26, on rounds of 80, 80 and 76.

Teammate Kurtis Fontinha was right behind in sixth with 81-73-83–237, while Kyle Pouliot tied for eighth place with 81-77-81–239. Carter Mason was 12th with 85-85-75–245, while Scott Spyra tied for 21st with 91-88-81–260.

In the women’s meet, Caro Els led Northern, tying for fifth with 86-76-79–241 or plus-25.

Teammate Abbie Boozer was next in 18th with 92-86-78–256, while Paxton Johnson was 30th with 90-93-92–275, Gianna Gastrow 34th with 99-90-93–282, Sydney Higgins tied for 35th with 98-98-87–283 and Megan Dagenais 48th with 128-117-117–362.

The Wildcat teams work their way north and next play at the Saginaw Valley State Spring Invitational in Georgetown, Kentucky, on Saturday and Sunday.