Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Golf in first place at Saluki Invitational
03/27/2011 | 12:00:00 | Women's Golf
March 27, 2011
By Megan Kramper
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Cold temperatures didn't seem to phase the SIU women's golf team on day one of the Saluki Invitational as it finished in the lead of its own 14 team tournament.
The Salukis came in eight strokes ahead of second place Western Illinois at their own two-day tournament, which is taking place at Hickory Ridge Golf Course.
"We are very pleased because it was a brutal day there is no disguising it and the kids were real troopers, they never complained and they fought really hard," Head coach Diane Daugherty said.
The high only reached 41 degrees in Carbondale, as temperatures and a wet course forced the shotgun start to be pushed back two hours to 11 a.m.
Ashleigh Rushing and Alisha Matthews were the top finishers for the Salukis, both coming in with a 79 and in a tie for third place overall.
"I didn't know what was going to be a good score out there today and I'm very proud of where we are but I just told them this is halftime, we have another whole round to go tomorrow," Daugherty said.
Bradley's Breanne Neufeld highlighted the round of 18 holes, as she went par for the course with a 72 overall to top the leader board helping the Braves to a second place tie after round one with Western Illinois.
For the Salukis, Cassie Rushing was one stroke behind the team leaders with an 80 in a tie for eight while Shaina Rennegarbe followed with an 81 in a tie for tenth on day one.
Margaret Gilley finished in a tie for 17th with a 82 and Alex Anderson rounded out the Saluki lineup with an 85 in a tie for 31st.
Day two will resume with a 9 a.m. shotgun start for another round of 18 holes, weather permitting.
1 Southern Illinois 319
T 3 Alisha Matthews (42-37) 79
T 3 Ashleigh Rushing (38-41) 79
T 8 Cassie Rushing (39-41) 80
T 10 Shaina Rennegarbe (42-39) 81
T 17 Margaret Gilley (43-39) 82
T 31 Alex Anderson (41-44) 85
Players Mentioned
