For the second season in a row, the SIU women’s golf team left Austin Peay State University and headed back to Carbondale as champions.

In 2016, the Salukis won the APSU Intercollegiate tournament with the help of senior Kristie Yang. Yang claimed the top score of any individual golfer at the event.

This year, a strong collective team score of 914 was enough to give the Salukis the first place finish – 18 strokes better than second place Austin Peay.

Round 1 (Oct. 2)

In the first round, senior Hanna Netisingha carded the best score for the Salukis with a 4-over-par 76. Her round featured a back nine in which she shot even for par.

Shooting a 5-over- par 77 for SIU was senior Alice Ho and sophomore Lili Klekner-Alt. The duo combined for four birdies in their first round of play.

Not far behind was the freshman tandem of Moyea Russell and Emilyee McGiles carding scores of 6-over-par 78 and 7-over-par 79, respectively.

The team combined for a total score of 308 in the first round. The score placed them in third heading into the second round of play behind Austin Peay State and the University of Louisiana Monroe.

Round 2 (Oct. 2)

Alice Ho carded the best score for the tournament of any Saluki golfer with her even-par score of 72 in the second round. Three birdies in the round kept the senior on track to claim par in the front and back nine.

Moyea Russell capped off her day with a 1-over-par 73. The freshman posted four birdies in her second round of play.

Finishing out the Saluki scorecard was McGiles, Klekner-Alt and Netisingha with scores of 76, 77 and 77, respectively.

In the second round, SIU posted their best team score of the tourney with a 298 – a 10 stroke improvement from earlier in the day.

Round 3 (Oct. 3)

Hanna Netisingha saved her best round of golf for the final round of the tournament. Two birdies and 13 pars resulted in the senior leading the Saluki scorecard on the second day with a 2-over-par 74.

The rest of the team was trying to play catch-up with Netisingha all day, but the only two SIU golfers that came close were Russell and McGiles. The freshman duo both shot a 5-over-par 77 in the tournament conclusion.

Falling back a bit were Ho and Klekner-Alt with scores of 8-over-par 80 and 9-over-par 81.

The team score of 308 was more than enough to seal the victory for SIU in the APSU Intercollegiate.

Final Standings

SIU made their presence felt in the individual standings with three Salukis finishing in the top five.

Hanna Netisingha placed third with her 11-over-par 227 with Moyea Russell one stroke behind, earning fourth place. Alice Ho tied for fifth place with her 13-over-par 229.

While a Saluki won the Intercollegiate in 2016, this year it was Mallory Sullivan of Belmont University claiming the honor.

Up Next

SIU will travel to Chicago State University on Oct. 9 and 10 to compete in the Cougar Classic. The three-round tournament will take place at the Harborside International Golf Center in Chicago.

Sports reporter Nathan Dodd can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @NathanMDodd.

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