April 10, 2008

By Ryan Shaw
www.siusalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois head women's golf coach Diane Daugherty recently announced the hiring of former Saluki golfer Samantha Sambursky as assistant coach.

"I am thrilled to have an assistant coach after being chief cook and bottle washer for 22 years," said Daugherty. "Samantha is a former player and cares about the program as much as I do."

Sambursky, formerly Samantha Sutzer before her marriage to former SIU quarterback Joel Sambursky, was a member of the SIU golf team from 2003 to 2007.

"I am looking forward to working with Diane and being part of making the women's golf team even better in every aspect, " said Sambursky. "Saluki golf is a huge part of my life and I am glad I get to stay part of it just in a different role than before."

As a Saluki:

2006-07: Played in 18 rounds in seven tournaments, recording a 78.4 stroke average...finished tied for 5th at the Saluki Invitational...shot nine rounds in the 70s...carded her season-low round of 72 in day one of the Islander Spring Classic.

2005-06: As a junior, participated in all 10 tournaments, playing 27 rounds...Stroke average 80.5...Finished 5th at the Saluki Invitational with a two-round total of 153...Finished 7th at the MVC Championships with a three-round total of 229...Shot 13 rounds in the 70s.

2004-05: Tied for 15th at the MVC Championships with a three-round score of 239...Shot a personal season-low 78 and tied for 30th at the Bay Tree Classic...Had a total of seven rounds in the 70s...Fourth on the team in stroke average at 80.81.

2003-04: As a freshman carried the fourth-best stroke average on the team with an 81.25 through 24 rounds...she shot seven rounds in the 70s and a career best 74 in the first two rounds of the Texas-Pan American Tournament (Feb. 23-24) to finish 11th and help the team to a tournament victory.

As a Prep: Attended Sacred Heart Griffin High School...earned all-conference honors in each of her four prep years...two-time State Journal-Register Girl's Golfer of the Year...finished as high as third in the state as a senior...was also the Central State Eight Conference medalist three years in a row.