April 13, 2009

By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University women's golf team is picked to finish fifth at the 2009 State Farm MVC Women's Golf Championship as announced by league officials Monday.

Illinois State was picked to finished first with 98 points, narrowly edging Drake who tallied 91 points. Missouri State was picked third with 77 points, just ahead of Bradley who earned 72 points for a fourth-place pick. SIU's 53 points earned them a fifth-place spot, while Northern Iowa was picked sixth with 47 points. Wichita State (40), Indiana State (37), Creighton (19), and Evansville (16) round out the bottom four, respectively.

This week SIU will travel to the 2009 State Farm MVC Championship hosted by Drake at the Lake Panorama National Resort in Panora, Iowa. Competition will take place Friday-Sunday, April 17-19. Teams will play 18 holes each day, beginning at 8 a.m. each day.

The Salukis have faced tough competition throughout the 2008-09 season, which head coach Diane Daugherty feels has helped prepare them for this weekend. The team has participated in nine tournaments this season, with their top finish being fourth place at the Saluki Invitational. SIU began their season at the Payne Stewart Memorial on Sept. 16, where the team shot a season-low 622 in two rounds for a fifth-place finish.

"We've got the talent, we've got the drive, and we work hard, we just haven't put it all together. If we put it all together we can win," said Daugherty. "There are some very talented teams, such as Illinois State and Drake. If we come home in the top three I'm going to be happy."

Freshman Alisha Matthews led the team this year with a 79.0 stroke average, competing in all nine tournaments. Braidy Hood posted a 79.5 stroke average, competing in 22 rounds, while Kate Laegeler was just behind Hood with an 81.3 average through 24 rounds. Laegler also won the individual title at the Saluki Invitational, garnering MVC Golfer of the Week on April 2.

The Salukis finished second behind Illinois State at last year's MVC Championships and in 2007, the team shot an 899, missing the school record of 892 by only seven strokes, to take home the conference title. Although competition is tough within the Valley this year, Daugherty is confident in the team's ability and will arrive in Iowa with determination for a top-three finish.

"Heading into conference, I'm the eternal optimist, but I'm also a realist," said Daugherty. "I do think we could peak and I do think we still have an outside chance to win. Every time we tee off we play to win."