Men, women set sights on MVC, NCAA tourneys

The men’s and women’s golf teams saw some success out of the fall season with record breaking scores and a few wins.

But both teams know they must come out stronger and more consistent if they want to see that success carry over into the spring season.

The women’s team saw the peak of its success at the Bay Tree Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Salukis shot a 293 in the last round of the tournament, tying the 18-hole school record.

“When I think of the fall season, I think of Myrtle Beach,” said sophomore Kelly Gerlach. “To set a school record at a very difficult golf course and at a very difficult tournament made it a very good trip.”

Gerlach shot a career-best 225 at the tournament, along with senior Stefanie Pate who shot a career low round of 72.

The Salukis had their best finish at the Arkansas State Lady Indian Classic in Jonesboro, Ark. Gerlach tied for first after the tournament, but ended up second after a playoff. Sophomore Natalie Parker finished the tournament in third place.

Sophomore Samantha Sutzer believes the team’s potential was evident at Myrtle Beach.

“It was fun at Myrtle Beach because we were all working together and hitting the ball well,” Sutzer said. “Everything came together on that day.”

Head coach Diane Daugherty said their last round at the Youel Tournament in Hawaii was a great way to end the season.

She said she would use SIU’s six-shot finish behind No. 2-ranked Arizona State to help propel the Salukis into the spring season.

“That gives us a lot of confidence and a good strong building block for the spring,” Daugherty said.

Despite some success, Gerlach said the Salukis did not meet all of their expectations but are heading in the right direction.

SIU wanted to finish in the top three or four positions at each tournament and shoot around 300 each round.

“We definitely need to eliminate the big numbers,” Gerlach said. “We are right there with some of the best teams in the country if we can just get rid of the doubles and triples and big numbers.”

Daugherty said SIU’s depth has given it an edge over the competition. With only four of the five scores counting for SIU, the Saluki’s rarely scored in the 80s in one round.

“Our depth has been good,” Daugherty said. “We really didn’t have to count two high scores all fall season, and that’s the key.”

The Salukis will be working out five days a week during the off-season in hopes of reaching the illusive Missouri Valley Championship they lost by one shot last spring to Illinois State.

“Every time we head out to the golf course, pick up our clubs and practice, it will all be for the conference championships,” Gerlach said. “There are about four teams that could win the championships this year, and we are definitely one of them.”

The men’s golf team was just as successful as it broke the all-time low 18-hole (275), 36-hole (561) and 54-hole (855) scores at its first tournament of the season, the Harris Fall Invite.

Roger Welch shot a career best 36-holes at the John Dallio Memorial Invitational with a 219, as well as his career best in one round of golf, shooting a 69. Sophomore Andrew Gwinup also shot his career best at the tournament with a 71.

SIU took first place at the John Dallio Memorial Invite and finished in the top five at every tournament it competed in this fall.

Individually, sophomore Kyle Hosick took first place at the Murray State Invite.

“We were satisfied, but we felt like we left a little bit on the golf course that we could have taken advantage of,” said head coach Leroy Newton. “The kids feel like we had a good season but believe we should have won a couple more tournaments.”

Senior captain Brian Norman believes SIU had a disappointing season, but there was some good progress made that the Salukis can build on during the off-season and spring.

“I think we can achieve some goals that the SIU golf team has never done before,” Norman said

Newton said his top two players were not as consistent but still pulled out some good numbers in the fall.

“Our top three, four, five and six players really stepped up their games this season,” Newton said.

Norman said he was a little disappointed in himself this fall season, not playing to his fullest potential, but is trying to improve. During the fall and off-season, Norman has been working with his swing instructor and said he has progressively seen some good improvements.

“I am going through some changes that make things better for the long run and know that I can contribute more than I have this fall,” Norman said.

In order to be in contention for the MVC’s, Newton said SIU must work on its putting and short game. He sees last year’s MVC champions, Wichita State, along with Drake, Southwest Missouri State and Illinois State as the teams to beat in the spring.

“The competition level will definitely be there again,” Hosick said. “But the sky is the limit when our team is playing to our full potential.”