Sept. 4, 2007

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

PINEVILLE, Ky. - The men's golf team placed three in the overall top-ten and shot a final round 3-over-par 291 to take second place at the 10-team Wasioto Winds Fall Kick-Off Invitational on Tuesday.

The Salukis entered the final day of competition in first place, but finished eight strokes behind Eastern Kentucky University who posted a third round score of 11-under-par 277 to finish with a three-round total of 840.

SIU's total score of 16-under-par 848 is second all-time in Saluki golf history and the best finish in a tournament since last season's record of 839 posted at the Buffalo Rock/Southern Showdown in Birmingham, Ala.

"We played well, had a good tournament and everyone contributed," said head coach Leroy Newton. "It was a great way to start our season and we're looking forward to the next tournament."

All five Salukis finished in the top 20 out of the 65-golfer field and it was the second time in the last three years that SIU opened the season with a second-place finish.

Junior Todd Obergoenner, and sophomore's Blake Driskell and Jordan Cox all finished tied for eighth place with a three-round total of 3-under-par 213.

Junior John Danielson finished 11th with a 2-under 214 and senior Matt Ellis tied for 16th with a 3-over-par 219.

In their next competition, the men's golf team travels to the Tunica National Golf Club in Memphis, Tenn. for the National Invitational Collegiate September 17 and 18.

Final results from the Wasioto Winds Fall Kick-Off Invitational hosted by Morehead State University at Wasioto Winds Golf Course. Par: 72. Yardage: 7037.

TEAM SCORING
1. Eastern Kentucky University - 287 - 276 - 277 -- 840 (-24)
2. Southern Illinois University - 282 - 275 - 291 -- 848 (-16)
3. Murray State University - 287 - 292 - 286 -- 865 (+1)
4. Tennessee-Martin - 292 - 289 - 286 -- 867 (+3)
5. IPFW - 288 - 287 - 297 -- 882 (+18)
6. Lipscomb University - 294 - 289 - 301 -- 884 (+20)
7. Bellarmine University - 288 - 295 - 305 - 888 (+24)
8. John A. Logan CC - 297 - 290 - 305 -- 892 (+28)
9. Morehead State University - 303 - 293 - 305 -- 901 (+37)
10. Walters State JC - 315 - 309 - 313 -- 937 (+73)

INDIVIDUAL SCORING
Southern Illinois University
T8 - Jordan Cox - 71 - 66 -76 -- 213 (-3)
T8 - Todd Obergoenner - 70 - 71 -72 -- 213 (-3)
T8 - Blake Driskell - 71 - 70 - 72 -- 213 (-3)
T11 - John Danielson - 72 - 68 -74 -- 214 (-2)
T16 - Matt Ellis - 70 - 76 - 73 -- 219 (+3)