The SIU women’s golf team was down a starter at the Grand Canyon University Invitational this weekend.

With freshman Moyea Russell out due to wrist tendonitis until the Saluki Invitational, Southern featured sophomore Erica Kerr in the starting lineup and played junior Sun Jung as an individual.

Despite a different rotation, the Salukis finished eighth of 15 teams at the tournament with a combined team score of 926, 62-over-par.

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“Overall, we played like we are capable of playing,” coach Alexis O’Brien said. “We still left a lot of shots out there but we are moving forward.”

In her first time in the rotation, Kerr recorded the best individual score of any Saluki. Kerr’s three-round score of 13-over-par 229 placed her in a tie for 27th.

“Erica’s mental game has come around and her attitude isn’t costing her strokes,” O’Brien said. “She has turned a corner in her mental game and I don’t think she will ever go back. It has just clicked.”

Close behind, in a tie for 33rd, was senior Hanna Netisingha and sophomore Lili Klekner-Alt. They each carded scores of 231, 15-over-par.

Freshman Emilyee McGiles tied for 47th with a 19-over-par 235. Senior Alice Ho finished in a tie for 76th and Jung placed 84th.

“Sun was able to play this tournament because Moyea went down due to injury,” O’Brien said. “If she wants to keep playing in tournaments or as an individual, she’s going to have to break 80.”

The Salukis will return to Carbondale to prepare for their next event at the Bama Beach Bash in Mobile, Alabama. The tournament is scheduled for March 16-18.

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

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