Monday, April 15
Chesterton, IN
Southern Illinois University
at
MVC Championships
Salukis Win MVC Women’s Golf Championship
04/16/2019 | 8:30:00 | Women's Golf
The Southern Illinois women's golf team won the 2019 Missouri Valley Conference Championship in commanding fashion. The Salukis scored a seven-stroke lead over second-place Northern Iowa (+48) in the final round to claim the program's first MVC title since 2007. Bradley finished in third place. SIU carded 300-299-306=905 (+41) over two days in Chesterton, Indiana at the Sand Creek Country Club.
The victory marks the first MVC title for first-year head coach Danielle Kaufman and Southern Illinois' eighth conference title- 4th in The Valley and four in The Gateway. All of the Salukis competing finished in the top 20 individually. Coach Kaufman was also named 2019 MVC Coach of the Year, marking the fourth time an SIU coach has earned the honor (Diane Daugherty was a three-time winner as Saluki head coach).
"Everybody had a part in this. It's been awesome," said SIU head coach Danielle Kaufman. "I'm proud of what each and every one of these girls did. They fought for every shot."
After trailing Drake by one-stroke at the end of the first day, the Salukis shot a 306 team score in the final round to move ahead of the field. Lili Klekner-Alt (+10) led the way for Southern Illinois, finishing tied for fifth and earning an All-Conference honor along the way.
"Lili really pulled it together and came out fiery and ready to go today," Kaufman said. "We had a small talk as a team yesterday on maintaining our composure, getting those pars and limiting doubles and triples. Everybody was ready to play today."
Southern Illinois' score of 905 ties for the second-lowest score total recorded in a three-round, 54-hole MVC Championship in program history. Emilyee McGiles and Moyea Russell finished the tournament tied for eighth at 11-strokes-over-par. Erica Kerr carded 77 in the final round to tie for 11th and Jackie Biggs shot a three-round total of 232 (+16) to finish tied for 19th.
"We were prepared for anything," Kaufman said. "We know what it takes and how to finish. That's what we did today."
The Salukis will advance to the NCAA Regionals and will play in either Alabama, Washington, Oklahoma, or Washington. Tune in to the NCAA Selection show on the Golf Channel on Wednesday, April 24th at 4:30 p.m.
Event Notes
Abby Cavaiani of Missouri State defeated Sydney Eaton of Northern Iowa in two playoff holes for the individual title.
Coach of there Year: Danielle Kaufman, Southern Illinois
Golfer of the Year: Thilda Staubo, Indiana State
Newcomer of the Year: Abby Cavaiani, Missouri State
Elite 17 Winner: Hannah Bermel, UNI
All-Conference Team
Hannah Bermel, UNI
Elayna Bowser, Loyola
Abby Cavaiani, Missouri State
Sydney Eaton, UNI
Taylor Ledwein, Bradley
Rachel Johnson, Missouri State
Lilian Klekner-Alt, Southern Illinois
Sophia Rohleder, Evansville
Frankie Saban, Bradley
Thilda Staubo, Indiana State
Team Scores
1 Southern Illinois 300-299-306=905 (+41)
2 Northern Iowa 311-301-300=912 (+48)
3 Bradley 305-303-306=914 (+50)
4 Indiana State 314-295-306=915 (+51)
5 Drake 201-297-318=916 (+52)
6 Missouri State 301-306-316=923 (+59)
7 Evansville 307-320-303=930 (+66)
8 Loyola 304-304-327=935 (+71)
9 Illinois State 312-314-321=947 (+33)
10 Valparaiso 326-317-322=965 (+34)
SIU Scores
T5 Lili Klekner-Alt 77-71-78=226 (+10)
T8 Emilyee McGiles 74-78-75=227 (+11)
T8 Moyea Russell 73-78-76=227 (+11)
T11 Erica Kerr 76-76-77=229 (+13)
T19 Jackie Biggs 78-74-80=232 (+16)
Stay Social
For the latest on Southern Illinois Women's Golf, follow the team on Twitter (@SIU_WGolf), Instagram (@SIU_WGolf), and like the team's official Facebook page (SIUWGolf).
The victory marks the first MVC title for first-year head coach Danielle Kaufman and Southern Illinois' eighth conference title- 4th in The Valley and four in The Gateway. All of the Salukis competing finished in the top 20 individually. Coach Kaufman was also named 2019 MVC Coach of the Year, marking the fourth time an SIU coach has earned the honor (Diane Daugherty was a three-time winner as Saluki head coach).
"Everybody had a part in this. It's been awesome," said SIU head coach Danielle Kaufman. "I'm proud of what each and every one of these girls did. They fought for every shot."
After trailing Drake by one-stroke at the end of the first day, the Salukis shot a 306 team score in the final round to move ahead of the field. Lili Klekner-Alt (+10) led the way for Southern Illinois, finishing tied for fifth and earning an All-Conference honor along the way.
"Lili really pulled it together and came out fiery and ready to go today," Kaufman said. "We had a small talk as a team yesterday on maintaining our composure, getting those pars and limiting doubles and triples. Everybody was ready to play today."
Southern Illinois' score of 905 ties for the second-lowest score total recorded in a three-round, 54-hole MVC Championship in program history. Emilyee McGiles and Moyea Russell finished the tournament tied for eighth at 11-strokes-over-par. Erica Kerr carded 77 in the final round to tie for 11th and Jackie Biggs shot a three-round total of 232 (+16) to finish tied for 19th.
"We were prepared for anything," Kaufman said. "We know what it takes and how to finish. That's what we did today."
The Salukis will advance to the NCAA Regionals and will play in either Alabama, Washington, Oklahoma, or Washington. Tune in to the NCAA Selection show on the Golf Channel on Wednesday, April 24th at 4:30 p.m.
Event Notes
Abby Cavaiani of Missouri State defeated Sydney Eaton of Northern Iowa in two playoff holes for the individual title.
Coach of there Year: Danielle Kaufman, Southern Illinois
Golfer of the Year: Thilda Staubo, Indiana State
Newcomer of the Year: Abby Cavaiani, Missouri State
Elite 17 Winner: Hannah Bermel, UNI
All-Conference Team
Hannah Bermel, UNI
Elayna Bowser, Loyola
Abby Cavaiani, Missouri State
Sydney Eaton, UNI
Taylor Ledwein, Bradley
Rachel Johnson, Missouri State
Lilian Klekner-Alt, Southern Illinois
Sophia Rohleder, Evansville
Frankie Saban, Bradley
Thilda Staubo, Indiana State
Team Scores
1 Southern Illinois 300-299-306=905 (+41)
2 Northern Iowa 311-301-300=912 (+48)
3 Bradley 305-303-306=914 (+50)
4 Indiana State 314-295-306=915 (+51)
5 Drake 201-297-318=916 (+52)
6 Missouri State 301-306-316=923 (+59)
7 Evansville 307-320-303=930 (+66)
8 Loyola 304-304-327=935 (+71)
9 Illinois State 312-314-321=947 (+33)
10 Valparaiso 326-317-322=965 (+34)
SIU Scores
T5 Lili Klekner-Alt 77-71-78=226 (+10)
T8 Emilyee McGiles 74-78-75=227 (+11)
T8 Moyea Russell 73-78-76=227 (+11)
T11 Erica Kerr 76-76-77=229 (+13)
T19 Jackie Biggs 78-74-80=232 (+16)
Stay Social
For the latest on Southern Illinois Women's Golf, follow the team on Twitter (@SIU_WGolf), Instagram (@SIU_WGolf), and like the team's official Facebook page (SIUWGolf).
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
9.10.25 | Saluki Radio Football Podcast - UT Martin
Wednesday, September 10
9.9.25 | Coach Nick Hill Weekly Press Conference
Tuesday, September 09
Inside Saluki Athletics - September 9th
Tuesday, September 09
9.7.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame Purdue- Vinson Davis and Andrew Behm
Sunday, September 07