April 13, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

Fightin Illini Spring Invite Final Results

URBANA, Ill. - The Southern Illinois men's golf team, which stood tied for third after Saturday's opening round, shot a final-day 303 on Sunday to move up to finish second at the 11-team, 36-hole Fighting Illini Spring Invite. The second place was the Salukis' best finish this spring, and the first second place since last fall's D.A. Weibring Intercollegiate in Normal, Ill.

The Salukis shot four strokes better than Eastern Illinois in the final day at the par-72, 7,118-yard Stone Creek Golf Course to claim their fourth second-place finish of the 2007-08 season with a two-round total of 616.

Host team, Illinois, shot a tournament-best 12-over 300 to take first place after standing in second after day one, and defeat SIU by seven shots overall with a 36-hole total of 609.

The tournament was scheduled to be 54-holes, but was shortened to 36 due to cold wind chills and rain.

"The conditions were brutally cold, but I'm happy with the way the team battled through and never gave up," said head coach Leroy Newton. "Pars were as good as birdies with the tough winds, but we did a good job taking one hole at a time."

Junior Todd Obergoenner and sophomore Blake Driskell, both tied for seventh out of the 57-golfer field with a 9-over 153, to lead the Salukis' scoring.

Driskell also was one of only four golfers to record an eagle during the tournament.

Sophomore, Jordan Cox, followed close behind Obergoenner and Driskell with a final-round 4-over 76 to tie for 13th with a 155, and senior captain Matt Ellis finished tied for 34th place with a 159, and junior John Danielson posted a 36-hole total of 160 to finish tied for 36th.

Southern Illinois' second place was its first top-five finish this spring after placing in the top five in four out of six tournaments last fall, including three second-places.

SIU also finished better than three Missouri Valley Conference team's competing in the field to gain momentum heading into the conference championship next week.

"You always want to be playing your best golf at the end of the season heading into the MVC Championship," Newton said. "I'm proud of the way we're finishing the year, and know we're ready to do our best to represent the school in the season finale."

Southern Illinois will conclude the season in Davenport, Iowa for the MVC Championship 54-hole tournament next Monday and Tuesday, April 21-22. The tournament will begin with 36 holes on Monday, followed by 18 on Tuesday.