Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Blue Demon Invitational
Men's Golf Wins Blue Demon Invitational
09/30/2003 | 12:00:00 | Men's Golf
Sept. 30, 2003
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
ST. CHARLES, Ill. - Junior Brian Norman shot a six-under-par 210 to lead the Southern Illinois University men's golf team to its second tournament title of the season earlier today at the DePaul Blue Demon Invitational. Norman took first place honors on the two-day event.
SIU (290-294-290--874), who held a six-stroke advantage after its first round, never surrendered the lead. Powered by Norman, the Salukis would go on to blow out Tennessee-Chattanooga (300-289-303--892) by 18 strokes, and win the tournament. Northern Illinois (307-294-309--905), Eastern Illinois (296-302-313--911) and Wisconsin-Green Bay (306-298-309--913) rounded out the top five.
Norman, who did not compete at the D.A. Weibring Classic (Sept. 14-15) due to illness, opened the tournament with back-to-back 69s, before polishing off his individual crown with a 72. The individual title marked his first as a Saluki.
Freshman Kyle Hosick turned in another solid performance as well. A native of Carmi, Ill., Hosick finished second with a 71-74-72--217. Senior Grant Goltz also placed in the top-10, as he tied for ninth with a 74-77-72--223.
Other Salukis who competed were freshman Braxton Weaver (76-74-78--228) and senior Dustin Stewart (78-82-74--234). Weaver finished 16th, while Stewart tied for 36th.
This year's Blue Demon Invitational began with a delay because there was frost on the course. The first day of play was pushed back an hour due to the delay, and second round action was halted thanks to darkness. Teams were then forced to finish their second rounds, in addition to their final 18 holes today.
"We did a great job," said Head Coach Leroy Newton. "The guys dominated despite windy conditions and a tough course. We never lost our lead and were consistent the whole way through."
SIU, who has won two of its first three tournaments this season, returns to action on Oct. 6-7 at the Shangri La Shoot-Out in Grand Lake of the Cherokees, Okla.
