Oct. 29, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Due to a scoring error the Southern Illinois men's golf team wrapped up the fall season in second place instead of the declared tie for fifth at the 16-team UTA/Waterchase Invitational.

The Salukis' corrected score of 292, moved SIU into second place behind tournament host UT-Arlington with a 54-hole total of 904.

Senior John Danielson was also named the Missouri Valley Conference Golfer of the Week today for the first time in his Saluki career. Danielson led SIU with a 2-over 218 en route to a career-best fourth place finish. He also tied a season-best with a second-round 1-under-par 71.

As a result of its second place, Southern Illinois concluded the best fall season since 2003, with two wins, a second, a fourth and sixth place in five tournaments.

In 2003, SIU also recorded two wins and a second place during the fall.

"I'm very pleased with the way everyone contributed during the five fall tournaments," said head coach Leroy Newton. "It was a very successful first half, and everyone played an important role."

Southern Illinois posted a 294.2, which was the second-best scoring average in the Missouri Valley Conference during the fall, and had three of the top six individual golfers in the MVC.

Senior Phillip Collier led the Salukis and ranked third in the MVC with a 73.4 stroke average, while senior co-captains Todd Obergoenner and Danielson ranked fifth and sixth with a 73.8 and 73.75 respectively.

"The fall was a big success, and our comeback to move into second was a great way to end it, " said Obergoenner. "We know we can still improve, but for the most part the first half went really well."

"Even though we did well this fall, we have to work on being more consistent for the spring," said Newton. "The spring will decide the conference champion, and we have to have everyone playing to their full potential."

The Salukis will look to claim their first league title when they host the MVC Championship in Cape Girardeau, Mo. at Dalhousie Golf Club April 27-28, 2009.

"The fall put us on the right track, but our goal at the beginning of the year was to win conference," said Obergoenner. "We're gearing up for the spring, and confident we can get it done."