Complete Results

Sept. 30, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

AVON, Ohio - The Saluki men's golf team battled through harsh weather Tuesday to tie for fourth out of 14 teams at the CSU Telich Sun Life Financial Invitational. Senior Todd Obergoenner paced SIU with a tie for sixth individually at 3-over-par 219.

Southern Illinois entered the final round alone in fourth place and just three strokes off the lead, but finished tied for fourth after recording a 309 in the most difficult playing conditions of the season.

"It rained like crazy, and we shot ourselves in the foot," said head coach Leroy Newton. "Everyone had to deal with it, but the bottom line is that we didn't play our best today."

Low scores were few and far between at the Sand Ridge Golf Course after storms halted play for more than an hour during the afternoon.

"The grass was soggy, and every shot was like hitting out of a water-hazard," explained Newton. "We still managed to finish in the top five though, and one shot here or there could have put us in the top three."

South Dakota State held on to first place (870) with a final round 5-over 293, while Longwood (877) and host Cleveland State (887) claimed second and third place with a 12-over 300 and 20-over 308 in the last 18 holes.

Malone College (889), who stood in fifth place after Monday, moved into a tie with the Salukis after posting a 302.

Despite the conditions, Southern Illinois still placed four in the top 20 out of 74 total participants.

Junior Blake Driskell led the Salukis in the final round with a 2-over-par 74, and tied for 28th (226), seniors Phillip Collier (223) and John Danielson (224) placed tied for 14th and 18th, and freshman Luke Daily tied for 48th (231).

The Salukis will return to action Sunday and Monday, Oct. 12-13 at the Illinois State Invitational in Normal, Ill.

Final Results from the CSU Telich Sun Life Financial Invitational
1. South Dakota State - 287 - 290 - 293 - 870 (+6)
2. Longwood University - 292 - 285 - 300 - 877 (+13)
3. Cleveland State - 296 - 283 - 308 - 887 (+23)
T4. Malone College - 294 - 293 - 302 - 889 (+25)
T4.Southern Illinois - 293 - 287 - 309 - 889 ( +25)
6. Detroit Mercy - 296 - 293 - 308 -- 897 (+33)
7. Loyola U.- Chicago - 296 - 302 - 303 - 901 (+37)
8. Oakland University - 304 - 291 - 308 -- 903 (+39)
9. Youngstown State - 304 - 291 - 311 -906 (+42)
10. Wright State - 314 - 298 - 296 - 908 (+44)
11. Butler University - 301 - 301 - 308 - 910 (+46)
12. St. Joseph's - 297 - 301 - 313 -- 911 (+47)
13. Wisconsin-Parkside - 313 - 302 - 309 - 924 (+60)
14. Robert Morris - 305 - 311 - 327 -- 943 (+79)

Southern Illinois University Individual Results
T6. Todd Obergoenner - 71 - 70 - 78 - 219 (+3)
T14. Phillip Collier - 75 - 68 - 80 - 223 (+7)
T18. John Danielson - 74 - 73 - 77 - 224 (+8)
T28. Blake Driskell - 75 - 77 - 74 - 226 (+10)
T48. Luke Daily - 73 - 76 - 82 - 231 (+15)