Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Pizza Hut / BellSouth Shootout
Men's Golf ties for fourth in spring opener
02/21/2006 | 12:00:00 | Men's Golf
Feb. 21, 2006
By Matt Crouch
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - After taking a break for the past few months, the Southern Illinois University men's golf team returned to action this weekend at the Pizza Hut/Bell South Invitational, finishing in a tie for fourth with a score of 15-over-par 303.
Hosted by Jackson State University, the Pizza Hut/Bell South Invitational was an 18-hole tournament that took place at Dancing Rabbit Golf Club. The par-72 course played at 6,848 yards.
The tournament was originally schedule to be 54 holes but was cut short due to inclement weather.
Winthrop University took top honors at the tournament, finishing seven shots ahead of SIU at 9-over 297.
Chad Cooper carded a 2-over 74 to lead the Salukis in the tournament, finishing tied for fourth.
Senior co-captain Sean McNemar was not far behind as he finished tied for 10th with a 3-over 75. Roger Welch followed in a tie for 15th with a 76.
Rounding out SIU's team scoring was Daniel Tomlin (T26) with a 6-over 78 and Mark Schmitz (T39) with an 81.
Junior Andrew Gwinup competed as an individual in the tournament, finishing tied for fourth with a 74.
"I'm happy with Chad (Cooper) and Andrew's (Gwinup) play this weekend. Also, Sean shot a 75 but said he didn't hit the ball well," said SIU Head Coach Leroy Newton. "After not playing for a few months, those are things you want to see."
Newton feels that playing in this tournament gives himself and the team a good idea of where they stand going into spring play and what they need to work on in the next few weeks.
"We have a lot of time to practice now and get ready for our trip to Texas," said Newton. "We should have won this tournament, we got beat by teams from the south that generally we are better than. The kids know what they have to work now and we have to get to it."
The Saluki golf team takes a break for the next few weeks, returning to action March 17 at the Sam Houston Bearkat Classic in Huntsville, Texas.
PHILADELPHIA, Miss. -- Final results from the Pizza Hut / Bell South Invitational hosted by Jackson State University at Dancing Rabbit Golf Club. Par: 72. Yardage: 6,848.
TEAM SCORING
1 - Winthrop University - 297 (+9)
2 - Jackson State University - 299 (+11)
3 - University of Tennessee at Martin - 300 (+12)
T4 - Southern Illinois University - 303 (+15)
T4 - Loyola College - 303 (+15)
6 - Nicholls State University - 308 (+20)
T7 - Chicago State University - 322 (+34)
T7 - Fairfield University - 322 (+34)
9 - Southern University - 327 (+39)
10 - Morehouse College - 332 (+44)
T11 - Alabama State University - 338 (+50)
T11 - Lewis University - 338 (+50)
13 - Centenary College - 339 (+51)
INDIVIDUAL SCORING
Southern Illinois University
T4 - Andrew Gwinup * - 74 (+2)
T4 - Chad Cooper - 74 (+2)
T10 - Sean McNemar - 75 (+3)
T15 - Roger Welch - 76 (+4)
T26 - Daniel Tomlin - 78 (+6)
T39 - Mark Schmitz - 81 (+9)
* - Played as an individual
