Salukis prep for spring season

What: Battle at Boulder Creek
Where: Boulder Creek Golf Club, Boulder Creek, Nevada
When: February 12-13
Who's playing: Drake University, Idaho State, Illinois State, Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, Southern Utah, University of Northern Colorado, University of South Dakota, University of Toledo, Weber State
Par/yards: 72/6,280 yards

After a successful fall season, the Salukis are back and ready to take on tournament play this season. The SIU Women's Golf team is headed to Nevada to compete in the Battle at Boulder Creek from Feb. 12-13.

The Salukis have played against four of the other nine teams including Drake and Illinois State from the Missouri Valley Conference. The Dawgs are currently ranked No. 146 according to Golf Stat.

At the MVC Preview in October, the Salukis beat both Drake and ISU finishing tied for third. Illinois State placed eighth and Drake placed ninth.

O'Brien said the team has been working hard since coming back last month. She expects all teams competing including returning champion Southern Utah, to shoot low.

"We have really been working on our full swing mechanics and our approach to the green," O'Brien said. "It's been very limited with the weather, so it's been hard to practice short game, but we have been working on our gap yardages in between full swing clubs and knowing our carry and roll yardages, so we can get the ball to the hole."

O'Brien will be sending six girls to Nevada to compete in the Battle at Boulder Creek. Seniors Hanna Netisingha and Alice Ho, sophomores Lili Klekner-Alt and Erica Kerr and freshmen Emilyee McGiles and Moyea Russell will be traveling with the team.

"Hanna is mentally competitive and wants to close out her Saluki career on a strong note," O'Brien said. "Our two freshmen will be impact players again. They have really put in some good work in the last few months and have the mental strength for competitive golf.

At the end of the fall season, the Dawgs matched their win total from the 2016-17 season and the team's three wins in the fall season are the most since the 2000-01 season. Head coach Alexis O'Brien also had her 20^th overall win with the Salukis.

The first 36 holes of Battle at Boulder Creek will begin on Monday with 36 holes and a shotgun start at 7:00 a.m. The tournament will conclude on Tuesday with 18 holes.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Players Mentioned

Alice Ho

Erica Kerr

Lili Klekner-Alt

Emilyee McGiles

Hanna Netisingha

Moyea Russell

Scoreboard

Southern Illinoise University Athletics