Southern Illinois University
Blue Raider Invitational
SIU tied for third at Blue Raider Invitational
10/22/2012 | 12:00:00 | Women's Golf
Oct. 22, 2012
By John Lock
SIUSalukis.com
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Southern Illinois women's golf team is tied for third at the Blue Raider Invitational after the first two rounds. The final round is set for tomorrow, starting with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start.
"This field is the toughest we will face all fall," head coach Alexis Mihelich said. "To come out and shoot two solid rounds back-to-back is fulfilling. Every player was playing well at the same time. When that happens, we can put ourselves in contention."
The team was tied for the tournament lead after shooting a 298 in the first round. The Salukis shot 300 in the second round to end the first day of competition tied for third.
Cassie Rushing is tied for the individual lead after shooting back-to-back 72s in the first two rounds. Rushing is trying to win the second tournament of her career after winning the Saluki Invitational last spring. Rushing hit 30 greens, including 16 of 18 in the second round. Rushing leads the 92-player field with 30 pars.
"Cassie's game has arrived," Mihelich said. "We've been waiting for this, and she's playing where she ended last spring. It helps the team when you have a player contending for the individual championship."
Ashleigh Rushing (149) is tied for 13th, five strokes back of the leaders. Amy Lee (151) is tied for 26th, Shaina Rennegarbe (154) is tied for 43rd and Mattie Lindner (159) is tied for 68th to round out the scoring Salukis.
The Salukis have shown considerable improvement in the tournament from this point last year. Going into the final round last year, SIU was in sixth place and had a two-round score of 610. This year, the Salukis are tied for third and have shot 12 strokes better.
Southern leads the only other Missouri Valley Conference team in the field, Northern Iowa, by 41 strokes. The Salukis led the field in Par 3 scoring and was third in birdies with 23.
Middle Tennessee State has a eight-stroke lead on the Salukis heading into the final round. Morehead State (597) is in second place. The Salukis are eight shots behind the leader and one shot behind Morehead State.
INDIVIDUAL SCORES
t-1.) Cassie Rushing: 72-72 (144)
t-13.) Ashleigh Rushing: 75-74 (149)
t-26.) Amy Lee: 76-75 (151)
t-43.) Shaina Rennegarbe: 75-79 (154)
t-68.) Mattie Lindner: 78-81 (159)
TEAM SCORES
1.) Middle Tennessee State: 299-291 (590)
2.) Morehead State: 307-290 (597)
t-3.) Jacksonville State: 299-299 (598)
t-3.) Southern Illinois: 298-300 (598)
5.) Southern Mississippi: 302-299 (601)
t6.) Lamar: 301-303 (604)
t6.) Arkansas-Little Rock: 298-306 (604)
8.) South Alabama: 303-302 (605)
9.) Murray State: 305-307 (612),br> t10.) UTEP: 306-307 (613)
t10.) Western Kentucky: 305-308 (613)
t10.) UMKC: 306-307 (613)
t13.) Oral Roberts: 309-305 (614)
t13.) Troy: 305-309 (614)
15.) Belmont: 313-306 (619)
16.) Austin Peay: 322-311 (633)
17.) Tennessee Tech: 318-318 (636)
18.) Northern Iowa: 328-311 (639)
Players Mentioned
