Oct. 8, 2007

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

NORMAL, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University men's golf team shot a final-round 2-over 282 on Monday to take second place at the 11-team D.A. Wiebring Intercollege at the Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State University in Normal, Ill. The Salukis placed four in the top 15 and all five in the top 20 out of 69 participants.

SIU recorded a three-round total of 854 and finished behind the University of Illinois who earned team medalist with a final-round 8-under 272 and 54-hole total of 837. The Salukis beat out of five other Missouri Valley Conference teams, including host school Illinois State, for their third second-place finish of the fall.

"We did a great job competing and everyone contributed," said coach Leroy Newton. "It's a real accomplishment to finish ahead of all the other teams in your conference, especially the defending MVC Champions on their home course."

Illinois State took third with a three-round total of 862, while Northern Iowa (870) and Western Illinois (875) rounded out the rest of the top five at fourth and fifth place.

Senior captain Matt Ellis shot a final-round 2-under-par 68 for the third-best score of the day. Ellis placed tied for 14th with a 54-hole total of 6-over 216.

"The wind was really blowing today, a lot more than yesterday, but I was able to make some putts which helped me score well," said Ellis. "The team played well and it was great to finish ahead of the other MVC teams."

Sophomore Jordan Cox placed tied for 10th with a 3-over-par 213 for his third top-10 finish of the season. Sophomore Blake Driskell and junior Todd Obergoenner carded final-round scores of even-par 70 and 1-under 69 to finish tied for 14th with Ellis and junior John Danielson shot a 54-hole 218 to finish tied for 20th overall.

Junior Phillip Collier, who participated as an individual, tied for 40th with a three-round total of 225.

The Salukis finish their fall season at the Skyhawk Classic in Paris, Tenn. next Monday, Oct. 15 and Tuesday, Oct. 16.

First standings with relation to par from the D.A. Weibring Intercollegiate, played Oct. 7-8 at the par-70, 6,681-yard D.A. Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State University in Normal, Ill.:
Team Results
1. University of Illinois - 290 - 275 - 272 - 837 (-3)
2. Southern Illinois University - 288 - 284 - 282 - 854 (+14)
3. Illinois State University - 282 - 292 - 288 - 862 (+22)
4. University of Northern Iowa - 298 - 284 - 288 - 870 (+30)
5. Western Illinois University - 291 - 293 - 291 - 875 (+35)
6. Eastern Illinois University - 296 - 290 - 293 - 879 (+39)
7. University of Cincinnati - 295 - 288 - 301 - 884 (+44)
8. Creighton University - 285 - 301 - 301 - 887 (+47)
9. Lewis University - 298 - 304 - 293 - 895 (+55)
10. University of Evansville - 304 - 298 - 299 - 901 (+61)
11. Bradley University - 297 - 304 - 303 - 904 (+64)

SIU Individual Results
T10. Jordan Cox - 67 - 70 - 76 - 213 (+3)
T14. Blake Driskell - 75 - 71 - 70 - 216 (+6)
T14. Matt Ellis - 74 - 74 - 68 - 216 (+6)
T14. Todd Obergoenner - 74 - 73 - 69 - 216 (+6)
T20. John Danielson - 73 - 70 - 75 - 218 (+8)
*T40. Phillip Collier - 73 - 75 - 77 - 225 (+15)
* Participated as individual