Oct. 16, 2007

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

BUCHANAN, Tenn. - The Southern Illinois University men's golf team stands in eighth place after the first day of competition on Monday at the 16-team Skyhawk Classic at Paris Landing Golf Course in Buchanan, Tenn.

The Salukis shot rounds of 309 and 296 for a 36-hole total of 605. Tennessee Tech University leads after the first two rounds with a score of 572, while Murray State University (575), Murray State University gold team (589) University of Evansville (591) and Eastern Illinois University (592) round out the rest of the top five.

SIU was led by senior captain Matt Ellis who carded rounds of 3-over-par 75 and 1-over 73 for a 36-hole total of 4-over 148. Ellis sits tied for 16th overall heading into the final round of play on Tuesday.

Sophomore Jordan Cox is tied for 25th and came back to fire a 2-under-par 70 after opening with an 80 in his first round for a total of 6-over 150.

Sophomore Blake Driskell is tied for 45th with a two-round total of 154, junior Todd Obergoenner is tied for 55th with a 156 and junior John Danielson is tied for 65th heading into the last day with a 36-hole total of 158.

The Skyhawk Classic is the last fall tournament for the Salukis this fall and the final round of play will begin on Tuesday at 8 a.m.

First day standings with relation to par from the Skyhawk Classic, played Oct. 15 at the par-72, 6,685-yard Paris Landing Golf Course in Buchanan, Tenn.:
Team Standings
1. Tennessee Tech University - 291 - 281 - 572 (-4)
2. Murray State University - 291 - 284 - 575 (-1)
3. Murray State University Gold Team - 301 - 288 - 589 (+13)
4. University of Evansville - 292 - 299 - 591 (+15)
5. Eastern Illinois University - 298 - 294 - 592 (+16)
6. Tennessee-Martin - 294 - 301 - 595 (+19)
7. Southern Indiana - 310 - 292 - 602 (+26)
8. Southern Illinois University - 309 - 296 - 605 (+29)
9. Bradley University - 306 - 303 - 609 (+33)
10. Army - 300 - 310 - 610 (+34)
11. Jackson State University - 307 - 304 - 611 (+35)
12. Morehead State University - 318 - 296 - 614 (+38)
13. Union University-Tennessee - 298 - 320 - 618 (+42)
14. Tennessee-Martin Orange Team - 318 - 302 - 620 (+44)
15. Tennessee State University - 315 - 317 - 632 (+56)
16. Chicago State University - 341 - 318 - 659 (73)

SIU Individual Standings
T16. Matt Ellis - 75 - 73 - 148 (+4)
T25. Jordan Cox - 80 - 70 - 150 (+6)
T45. Blake Driskell - 74 - 80 - 154 (+10)
T55. Todd Obergoenner - 81 - 75 - 156 (+12)
T65. John Danielson - 80 - 78 - 158 (+14)