Southern Illinois University
Myrtle Beach Classic
Women's golf opens season with second-place finish
09/26/2006 | 12:00:00 | Women's Golf
Sept. 26, 2006
By Ryan Shaw
www.SIUSalukis.com
The Southern Illinois women's golf team traveled to Myrtle Beach, S.C. for the Unlimited Potential/Myrtle Beach Classic to open the 2006-07 season.
After three rounds of play the Salukis finished just two strokes behind tournament host and champion College of Charleston. The Salukis posted an 892 total in the three-round tournament.
In round one SIU finished with a 297, only three strokes behind first place Charleston. The Salukis shot a 299 in the second round, good enough to tie Charleston and put them in third place.
Round three was the Saluki's best round of the tournament as they collected the lowest score of the round with a 296.
"For us to be in contention and shoot the low round in this bunch, I am very happy," said head coach Diane Daugherty.
Daugherty was also pleased with the first performance of her golfers this season.
Junior Kelly Gerlach led the Salukis with a two under par score after three rounds, shooting 70-72-75. Gerlach's scores were good enough for second place in the individual rankings.
Junior Christine Zoerlein finished ranked fifth with a one over par with a total of 220 after three rounds.
Senior Josie Lowder shot 78-75-72 for a six over par finish. Lowder finished tied for 15th out of the 90 competitors.
Augusta State transfer Lauren May's 76-79-75 performance was good enough for an eleven over par finish. In her first tournament with the Salukis she tied for 28th place.
Sophomore Braidy Hood turned in a 79-79-76 performance to finish fifteen over par. Hood finished the tournament in 39th place.
Finishing second out of 16 teams his season is a vast improvement over last year's tenth place finish in the same tournament. The Salukis will look to build on the win when they travel to DeKalb, Ill. next week to compete in the Northern Illinois Huskie Classic.
