Sept. 21, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

Day One Standings

LEMONT, Ill. - Senior co-captain Todd Obergoenner fired rounds of 5-under 67 and even-par 72 Sunday to help put the Saluki men's golf team in second place after 36 holes at the John Dallio Memorial tournament.

Southern Illinois opened with a 2-over 290 in the morning round, before carding a 1-under 287, to move within two shots of first place Georgetown heading into the final 18 holes on Monday.

Obergoenner paced SIU with a two-round 5-under-par 139 on the day, and sits in a three-way tie for first with Ben Vertz of Nova Southeastern and Brian Dorfman of Georgetown.

"We came out and played very well today against a tough field," said head coach Leroy Newton. "It's always our goal to be in contention heading into the final day, and now we've just got to stay steady to overtake first."

The Salukis received contributions from all five golfers on the day, and have three in the top 20 individually.

Senior Phillip Collier shot rounds of 1-over 73 and even 72 to sit tied for 16th, freshman Luke Daily carded a 2-over 74 and even 72 to claim a share of 20th place, and senior John Danielson and junior Blake Driskell are tied for 37th and 56th at 6-over and 9-over respectively.

Danielson, who is playing in his first tournament of the season, also had one of SIU's two scores under par with a second round 1-under 71.

The final 18 holes will be played on Monday at the par-72, 6,858-yard Ruffled Feathers Golf Course.