KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Indiana State golf team enjoyed some southern hospitality Sunday with four Sycamores currently in the top 20 and the team sitting in second after the first round of the SIU Saluki Invitational at Hickory Ridge Golf Course.
Indiana State is just two shots back of host Southern Illinois as the Sycamores totaled 311 in the first round while the Salukis came in at 309. A distant third is Chicago State (320) with Washington University-St. Louis and IUPUI tied for fourth (322).
“We are two back to SIU and nine up on Loyola among the conference schools competing,” Greg Towne, Indiana State women's golf coach, said. “The girls were just happy to get the opportunity to compete. The course is quite a bit different than ours and presents some neat challenges. The wind is supposed to blow heavily tomorrow so it will be a whole new skill set. We are looking forward to the day.”
Senior McCall Christopher and junior Gina Della Camera finished the first round in the top 10 with juniors Amanda Smith and Erinn Sutton in the top 20.
Christopher posted her eighth straight round in the 70s as she carded a 76 in the opening round Sunday and will start the second round tied for sixth. Della Camera shot a career and season low 18 hole round of 77 to finish the opening round tied for ninth. The junior's previous best round was 79 which she posted twice as a freshman (first round of Butler Invitational and first round of MVC Championship).
Smith is tied for 13th with a round of 78 and Sutton is tied for 20th with a round of 80. Freshman Megan Berube is playing in her first tournament of the spring portion of the season and shot an 84 in the first round. She is currently tied for 39th.
Making her first collegiate start for Indiana State is sophomore Shelby Williams who posted a 96 and is currently tied for 76th.
Evansville's Kayla Katterhenry leads the field after she posted a three-under 69 in the opening round which set a new Saluki Invitational record for low opening round. IUPUI's Ana Fernandex de Mes now has the second best first round score in tournament history after posting a one-under 71 in Sunday's opening round. SIU's Kristie Yang is at even par 72 and in third with teammate Karis Grimes fourth at 73.
The final round of the tournament will begin at 10 a.m. (ET).
