Southern Illinois University
Eagle Invitational
Salukis take ninth place at FGCU Eagle Invitational
02/15/2015 | 12:00:00 | Women's Golf
By Elizabeth Robinson
SIUSalukis.com
ESTERO, Fla. - The Saluki women's golf team moved up one spot to finish in ninth place out of 14 teams at the FGCU Eagle Invitational on Sunday. SIU shot 319 as a team, three strokes lower than the previous day, to finish with an overall 959 on the weekend.
Sophomore Brooke Cusumano had SIU's lowest round of the weekend, shooting 77 in the final round at Stoneybrook Golf Club. Cusumano, who dropped a stroke off her score each day of the tournament, led the Salukis with an overall 234 (79-78-77) to finish tied for 18th.
A well-played opening nine boosted sophomore Xianmei Jin in the standings, as she dropped six strokes from her first round score to golf a 78 on Day Three. Jin sank four birdies in the first nine holes, helping her tie for 41st place overall.
Senior Kris Grimes shaved five strokes off her previous score, ending the day with a 79, to sit with Jin tied for 41st place.
Junior Mattie Lindner and sophomore Kristie Yang struggled, however, each posting rounds in the mid-to-high-80s, moving them down in the rankings to 50th and tied for 58th, respectively.
"The players made some very good birdies the last few days," head coach Alexis Mihelich said. "We need to minimize the high numbers and we will be right there again."
In their first meeting with a conference rival this season, the Salukis topped Drake University by 42 strokes. Drake finished in 13th place overall.
The Salukis will take three weeks between tournaments to prepare for the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational in Oahu, Hawaii beginning Tuesday, March 10. Cusumano, Lindner, Grimes, Yang and Jin will once again represent the Salukis.
"The first tournament is always a learning experience," Mihelich said. "We know what we need to do to improve in a few weeks to prepare four our next events."
SIU Individual Scores
T18. Brooke Cusumano - 79-78-77 (234)
T41. Xianmei Jin - 84-81-78 (243)
T41. Kris Grimes - 80-84-79 (243)
50. Mattie Lindner - 78-82-85 (245)
T58. Kristie Yang - 81-81-87 (249)
Team Scores
1. Elon - 292-308-303 (901)
T2. Toledo - 309-307-302 (918)
T2. Daytona State - 308-299-311 (918)
4. Xavier - 307-304-314 (925)
5. FGCU - 308-319-309 (936)
T6. Arkansas State - 319-308-320 (947)
T6. Ohio - 311-326-310 (947)
8. Akron - 324-312-312 (948)
9. Southern Illinois - 318-322-319 (959)
10. Utah Valley - 322-316-327 (968)
11. USC Upstate - 329-317-327 (973)
12. Northern Kentucky - 338-317-345 (1000)
13. Drake - 340-334-327 (1001)
14. FAU - 350-336-364 (1050)
Players Mentioned
