Southern Illinois University
State Farm MVC Championships
Women's Golf wins Missouri Valley Conference Championship
04/17/2007 | 12:00:00 | Women's Golf
April 17, 2007
By Ryan Shaw
www.siusalukis.com
PEORIA, Ill. - The Southern Illinois women's golf team won the seventh Missouri Valley Conference Championship in school history today at WeaverRidge Golf Club.
The title is the first for the Salukis since 2000 and the fifth conference title of head coach Diane Daugherty's career, including three in the MVC era.
"Obviously, we're very, very excited," said Daugherty. "It was very close, I never would have thought we'd have to shoot a 290 to only win by eight."
The Salukis set a new school record with their 290 team total in today's third round to secure the title. The previous school records for both all-time low 18-hole score and best third round score were set in 2004 at the Bay Tree Classic with a 293.
SIU also broke both the school record and the Valley Championship record for all-time low 54-hole score with their three-day total of 899. The previous SIU record was a 901 set at the UALR Lady Trojan Invitational in 2000. The MVC record was set in 1995 when Tulsa shot a 900 at the 54-hole championship.
Saluki sophomore Braidy Hood broke both the MVC Championship all-time low 18-hole score and the SIU best third round score records with her 68 in today's third round. The previous MVC low was a 69, which was held by Maria Brink of Tulsa, Kelly Dillon of Bradley and Christine Zoerlein of SIU.
Hood's mark broke Alison Hiller's record for best third-round score, which was a 69 set at the Lady Trojan Invitational in 2000. Hood also tied Hiller's previous SIU all-time low 18-hole score record set in 2002 at the Snowbird Classic.
With her 68 for today, Hood finished tied for fourth overall with a three-day total of 224 (78-78-68). Josie Lowder was SIU's top finisher at No. 3 overall with a 223 (77-73-73).
Zoerlein finished with a good round today to land at No. 8 overall with a 229 (76-79-74). Kelly Gerlach finished tied for 10th with a fifteen-over par 231 (79-77-75).
"I am very proud of Braidy and her 68, Josie and her 73, Christine and her 74, Kelly and her 75," said Daugherty. "That's just unbelievable, it's a new school record by three shots and to do that in this type of pressure, I couldn't be happier."
Senior Samantha Sutzer has a tough final round, but finished tied for 12th with a 16-over 232 (75-75-82). Lauren May finished tied for 39th with a 33-over 249 (86-86-77).
The Salukis will now wait to learn which NCAA regional they will participate in. The NCAA golf championship selection announcements will be made on Monday, April 30 at 3 p.m. at ncaasports.com.
"We're off to the NCAA Regionals and we're the first golf team ever to do that at SIU, so we're excited," said Daugherty.
Individual Results:
3 - Josie Lowder - 77-73-73 -- 223
T4 - Braidy Hood - 78-78-68 -- 224
8 - Christine Zoerlein - 76-79-74 -- 229
T10 - Kelly Gerlach - 79-77-75 -- 231
T12 - Samantha Sutzer - 75-75-82 -- 232
T39 - Lauren May - 86-86-77 -- 249
Team Results:
1 - Southern Illinois - 303-306-290 -- 899
2 - Bradley - 316-296-295 -- 907
3 - Missouri State - 309-309-294 -- 912
4 - Illinois State - 317-323-308 -- 948
5 - Northern Iowa - 325-320-308 -- 953
6 - Wichita State - 335-319-301 -- 955
7 - Evansville - 319-326-313 -- 958
8 - Indiana State - 332-317-319 -- 968
9 - Drake - 327-323-330 -- 980
10 - Creighton - 336-333-320 -- 989
