Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Branson Creek Invitational
Men's golf finishes 11th at Branson Creek Invitational
04/01/2008 | 12:00:00 | Men's Golf
April 1, 2008
By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com
HOLLISTER, Mo. - The Southern Illinois men's golf team shot a final-round 310 on Tuesday to finish 11th with a 36-hole total of 615 at the Branson Creek Invitational in Hollister, Mo. Junior Phillip Collier led SIU with a two-round total of 9-over, 151, to finish tied for 34th overall.
The Salukis entered the final day in 11th place and shot one stroke better than Northern Iowa, and five better than Creighton in the final 18 holes, but could not move up in the final standings in the rain-shortened tournament.
Due to rain on Monday, the tournament was reduced to 36 holes at the par-71, 7,036-yard Branson Creek Golf Course.
"We just need to work on finishing our rounds like we did in the fall," SIU coach Leroy Newton said. "If we could end the rounds like we started, the scores could have been much better. We hit a lot of good shots, but the ones we didn't hit well, really costed us."
Illinois State led by four strokes heading into the final 18, but host team, Missouri State, shot a final-round 10-over-par 294 to come-from-behind and edge the Redbirds to win the team medalist, 583-585.
Following Illinois State, UMKC finished third with a 36-hole total of 22-over, 590, Drake came in fourth at 26-over, 594, and Murray State rounded out the top five with a 28-over, 596.
All five SIU golfers shot within three strokes of each other in the final round, with Collier and junior Todd Obergoenner each recording a 5-over-par 76, and junior John Danielson, senior captain Matt Ellis and sophomore Blake Driskell all posting a 79.
Behind Collier, Obergoenner finished tied for 40th with a two-round total of 153, Danielson came in at 44th with a 154, and Ellis and Driskell both tied for 55th place with a 157.
Sophomore Jordan Cox and senior Brandon Vagner, who were also competing as individuals, finished tied for 49th and 61st with a 156 and 161 respectively.
Southern Illinois will continue play in its fourth tournament of the season at the ASU Indian Classic, hosted by Arkansas State at the Sage Meadows Golf Club in Jonesboro, Ark. next Monday and Tuesday, April 7-8.
Players Mentioned
