Oct. 16, 2007

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

BUCHANAN, Tenn. - The Southern Illinois University men's golf team fired the best final-round score at 2-under-par 286 on Tuesday to move up two spots and finish tied for sixth at the 16-team Skyhawk Classic at Paris Landing Golf Course in Buchanan, Tenn.

The Salukis carded a 54-hole total of 891 and out-shot the team medalist, Tennessee Tech University by two strokes in the final round of play. SIU made up ground against the entire field in the last day to finish only five strokes out of third place.

Tennessee Tech recorded a three-round total of 4-under-par 860 for first place, while Murray State University (866), Murray State University gold team (886), University of Evansville (888) and Eastern Illinois University (889) rounded out the rest of the top five.

"We didn't have the type of tournament we expected," said coach Leroy Newton. "We came in a little too loose, but played really well today to show what we're capable of for the spring season."

SIU was led by senior captain Matt Ellis who finished tied for 19th and carded a final round 78 to go along with rounds of 3-over-par 75 and 2-under 70 for a 54-hole total of 223.

Sophomore Jordan Cox moved up three spots to finish tied for 22nd. Cox fired a final-round 1-under-par 71 for a three-round total of 224.

Sophomore Blake Driskell also saved his best round for last, carding a 2-under-par 70 to move up the leaderboard and finish tied for 22nd with a 54-hold total of 224.

Junior Todd Obergoenner moved up in the last day of competition with a final-round 2-under 70 to finish tied for 30th with a 226, and junior John Danielson tied for 58th with a final-round 75 and total of 233.

The Skyhawk Classic was the final tournament for the Salukis this fall. SIU recorded three team second-place finishes, along with a fourth and sixth place. It was the most top-five finishes for the Salukis in a fall season since the 2004-05 season.

Final standings with relation to par from the Skyhawk Classic, played Oct. 15-16 at the par-72, 6,685-yard Paris Landing Golf Course in Buchanan, Tenn.:
Team Results
1. Tennessee Tech University - 291 - 281 - 288 - 860 (-4)
2. Murray State University - 291 - 284 - 291 - 866 (+2)
3. Murray State University Gold Team - 301 - 288 - 297 - 886 (+22)
4. University of Evansville - 292 - 299 - 297 - 888 (+24)
5. Eastern Illinois University - 298 - 294 - 297 - 889 (+25)
T6. Tennessee-Martin - 294 - 301 - 296 - 891 (+27)
T6. Southern Illinois University - 309 - 296 - 286 - 891 (+27)
8. Army - 300 - 310 - 292 - 902 (+38)
9. Union University-Tennessee - 298 - 320 - 288 - 906 (+42)
10. Bradley University - 306 - 303 - 302 - 911 (+47)
11. Jackson State University - 307 - 304 - 305 - 916 (+52)
12. Morehead State University - 318 - 296 - 304 - 917 (+53)
13. Southern Indiana - 310 - 292 - 316 - 918 (+54)
14. Tennessee-Martin Orange Team - 318 - 302 - 312 - 932 (+68)
15. Tennessee State University - 315 - 317 - 303 - 935 (+71)
16. Chicago State University - 341 - 318 - 304 - 963 (+99)

SIU Individual Results
T19. Matt Ellis - 75 - 70 - 78 - 223 (+7)
T22. Jordan Cox - 80 - 70 - 71 - 224 (+8)
T22. Blake Driskell - 74 - 80 - 70 - 224 (+8)
T30. Todd Obergoenner - 81 - 75 - 70 - 226 (+10)
T44. *Phillip Collier - 75 - 78 - 77 - 230 (+14)
T58. John Danielson - 80 - 78 - 75 - 233 (+17)
* Participated as individual