Sept. 3, 2007

By Kyle Herm
www.siusalukis.com

PINEVILLE, Ky. - The Southern Illinois men's golf team opened the 2007-08 season with a 36-hole all-time record 19-under-par 557 and stands in first place after the first day of the Wasioto Winds Kick Off Invitational on Monday.

The Salukis shot a 6-under-par 282 in the morning round and tied an 18-hole record 13-under-par 275 in the afternoon to take a six-shot lead over second place Eastern Kentucky University.

SIU's previous 36-hole record 569 and last 18-hole total of 275 were both set during the 2004-05 season at the Harris Fall Invitational.

"The guys played fantastic today and I'm very proud of how they competed, " said head coach Leroy Newton.

Sophomore Jordan Cox led SIU with a 7-under 137 in the two rounds and is tied for second overall, one stroke behind leader John Slayton of Tennessee-Martin. Cox is followed by junior John Danielson who fired a 36-hole 4-under 140, and is currently in seventh place.

Right behind Danielson are Todd Obergoenner and Blake Driskell who are both tied for eighth with a 3-under-par 141, and senior Matt Ellis shot a 2-over-par 146 and sits tied for 22nd.

Hosted by Morehead State University, the Kick Off Invitational is a 54-hole tournament taking place at Wasioto Winds Golf Course in Pineville, Ky. The par-72 course, one of the signature courses in the Kentucky State Park System, plays at 6,428 yards.

The final 18 holes will be played on Tuesday, September 4.

First-round results from the Wasioto Winds Kick Off Invitational hosted by Morehead State University at Wasioto Winds Golf Course. Par: 72. Yardage: 6,428.

TEAM SCORING
1. Southern Illinois University - 282 - 275 - 557 (-19)
2. Eastern Kentucky University - 287 - 276 - 563 (-13)
3. Murray State University - 287 - 292 -579 (+3)
4. Tennessee-Martin - 292 - 289 - 581 (+5)
5. Lipscomb Uuniversity - 294 - 289 - 583 (+7)
Bellarmine University - 288 - 295 - 583 (+7)
7. IPFW - 288 - 297 - 585 (+9)
8. John A. Logan CC - 297 - 290 - 587 (+11)
9. Morehead State University - 303 - 293 - 596 (+20)
10. Walters State JC - 315 - 309 - 624 (+48)

INDIVIDUAL SCORING
Southern Illinois University
T2 - Jordan Cox - 71 - 66 - 137 (-7)
7 - John Danielson - 72 - 68 - 140 (-4)
T8 - Todd Obergoenner - 70 - 71 - 141 (-3)
T8 - Blake Driskell - 71 - 70 - 141 (-3)
T22 - Matt Ellis - 70 - 76 - 146 (+2)