Oct. 2, 2007

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

FORT WORTH, Texas - The Southern Illinois University men's golf team started the day in seventh, but shot a final-round 7-over 295 on Tuesday to finish fourth at the UT-Arlingon Fall Classic in Forth Worth, Texas.

The Salukis outshot Central Arkansas, Sam Houston State and California-Poly which all sat ahead of SIU heading into the final round, to take fourth place by two strokes from Arkansas State. SIU tied with ASU for the second-best final round score for a 54-hole total of 16-over 880.

The University of Texas-Arlington took team medalist with a final-day 6-over 294 and three-round total of 13-under-par 851. Central Oklahoma (873), University of Missouri-Kansas City (874), and Arkansas State (882) rounded out the rest of the top five.

"It turned out to be a really good tournament for us," said SIU coach Leroy Newton. "I'm really proud of how we played and came back in the final round to move into the top five. The guys really picked each other up at key moments and played well."

SIU placed two in the top ten out of the 86-golfer field and have had at least two golfers finish in the top ten three times this season.

Junior Todd Obergoenner moved from 11th to finish tied for fifth-place with a final-round even-par 72 and carded a 54-hole total of 1-under-par 215. Obergoenner said the conditions were tough on the final day, but staying relaxed was key.

"I didn't do anything special, I just tried to stay calm throughout the tournament and keep the ball in the fairway," said Obergoenner. "The wind was really blowing today, which could really penalize you if you didn't hit it straight, but I'm really happy with how the team played and came back."

Senior captain Matt Ellis shot a 3-over 75 for an overall even-par 216 and ninth-place finish. Sophomore Jordan Cox finished tied for 42nd with an 8-over 224, junior John Danielson had his best round of the tournament with an even-par 72 to finish tied for 52nd with a 226 and sophomore Blake Driskell carded a 76 to finish with a 232 and tied for 70th.

The Salukis have finished in the top five in three out of four tournaments this fall and will travel to Illinois State on Sunday, Oct. 7 and Monday, Oct. 8 for the D.A. Weibring Intercollegiate at the ISU Golf Course.

Final scores with relation to par from the UT-Arlington Fall Classic, played Oct. 1-2 at the par-72, 7,304-yard Waterchase Golf Club in Fort Worth, Texas:
Team Results
1. University of Texas-Arlington - 282 - 275 - 294 - 851 (-13)
2. Central Oklahoma - 289 - 288 - 296 - 873 (+9)
3. University of Missouri-Kansas City - 292 - 286 - 296 - 874 (+10)
4. Southern Illinois University - 286 - 299 - 295 - 880 (+16)
5. Arkansas State University - 295 - 292 - 295 - 882 (+18)
6. Central Arkansas - 292 - 291 - 303 - 886 (+22)
7. Sam Houston State University - 294 - 290 - 303 - 887 (+23)
8. California-Poly - 289 - 288 - 311 - 888 (+24)
9. Nicholls State University - 299 - 294 - 300 - 893 (+29)
10. Texas State University - 307 - 296 - 294 - 897 (+33)
T11. Oral Roberts University - 296 - 301 - 301 - 898 (+34)
T11. Stephen F. Austin State - 295 - 293 - 310 - 898 (+34)
13. Missouri State - 299 - 299 - 317 - 915 (+51)
14. Centenary College - 303 - 307 - 312 - 922 (+58)
15. McNeese State University - 308 - 308 - 320 - 936 (+72)

SIU Individual Results
T5. Todd Obergoenner - 72 - 71 - 72 - 215 (-1)
T9. Matt Ellis - 69 - 72 - 75 - 215 (Even)
T42. Jordan Cox - 69 - 79 - 76 - 224 (+8)
T52. John Danielson - 76 - 78 - 72 - 226 (+10)
T70. Blake Driskell - 78 - 78 - 76 - 232 (+16)