Southern Illinois University
MVC Championships
Salukis finish MVC Championship tied for third
04/23/2013 | 12:00:00 | Women's Golf
April 23, 2013
By John Lock
SIUSalukis.com
SUNRISE BEACH, Mo. - The Southern Illinois women's golf team tied for third place at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship on Tuesday. Cassie Rushing and Shaina Rennegarbe earned All-Conference recognition after tying for fifth at the conference tournament.
Shaina Rennegarbe earned All-Conference laurels for the first time in her career. Rennegarbe became just the eighth golfer in school history to post a career stroke average better than 80 and posted exactly 100 career rounds. In the final round of her career, Rennegarbe posted the third-best final-round score of the MVC Championship with a 78. Rennegarbe was fourth in the tournament in par-5 scoring.
Rennegarbe led the Salukis at the MVC Championship for the second time in her career, also leading the team in her freshman season. She posted two top-five finishes and five top-10 finishes this season, finishing among the top-10 in three of her final four tournaments.
"Shaina played the best golf I've seen all year in the worst conditions," head coach Alexis Mihelich said. "She ended her Saluki career on a high note, earning a much-deserved All-Conference honor. She went out there trying to get a win for her team."
Cassie Rushing earned All-Conference recognition for the third time in her three-year career. Rushing is just the fourth player in school history to earn All-Conference honors three times. In her senior season in 2013-14, Rushing will have a chance to become just the eighth player in MVC history to be a four-time All-Conference golfer. Kelly Gerlach is the only golfer in SIU history to be a four-time All-Conference selection.
Rushing closed out a junior season that included one tournament win, three top-five finishes and five top-10 finishes. Rushing's season stroke average of 77.6 ranks ninth in school history, giving her two of the top-10 single-season stroke average marks. Her career scoring average (77.5) is currently the best in school history, and she is tied for fourth in school history with 56 career rounds in the 70s. Rushing was second in the tournament with 31 pars.
Freshmen Mattie Lindner and Amy Lee played well in their first appearance at the MVC Championship. Lindner finished tied for 18th and Lee tied for 28th in the 50-player field. Lindner was third in the tournament with six birdies. Ashleigh Rushing placed 35th to round out the Saluki squad.
"Mattie's opening round is the best positive take from this tournament," Mihelich said. "A freshman to have a performance like that is a sign of great things to come."
Illinois State won the conference crown for the fifth time in the last six years. The Redbirds' Katie Jean won the tournament for the second-straight year. The tournament was tightly contested throughout its three rounds, and five teams in the 10-team field finished within seven shots of the lead. The tournament included bad weather in the first and third rounds, which led to higher scores in those rounds.
TEAM RESULTS
1. Illinois State: 333-317-327 (977)
2. Wichita State: 325-317-338 (980)
t3. Southern Illinois: 326-317-339 (982)
t3. Bradley: 328-317-337 (982)
5. Missouri State: 332-313-339 (984)
6. Indiana State: 330-333-345 (1008)-
t7. Creighton: 341-348-349 (1038)
t7. Northern Iowa: 349-344-345 (1038)
9. Evansville: 336-351-357 (1044)
10. Drake: 352-344-353 (1049)
INDIVIDUAL SCORES
t5. Cassie Rushing: 79-72-89 (240)
t5. Shaina Rennegarbe: 83-79-78 (240)
t18. Mattie Lindner: 78-87-85 (250)
t28. Amy Lee: 86-82-87 (255)
35. Ashleigh Rushing: 87-84-92 (263)
10 teams, 50 players
The Club at Porto Cima; Par 72, 6060 yards
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Katie Jean, Illinois State
Danielle Lemek, Bradley
Emma Clegg, Missouri State
Megan Thompson, Missouri State
Cassie Rushing, Southern Illinois
Bryce Schroeder, Wichita State
Celeste Gassman, Creighton
Shaina Rennegarbe, Southern Illinois
Alex Zenor, UNI
Ariel Tidwell, Missouri State
SPECIALTY AWARDS
Elite 18 Award Winner - Katie Jean, Illinois State
Medalist - Katie Jean, Illinois State
Newcomer of the Year - Danielle Lemek, Bradley
Golfer of the Year - Katie Jean, Illinois State
Coach of the Year - Mary Swanson, Bradley
Players Mentioned
