Carbondale Reporter

Kayla Sayyalinh and Pihla Pennanen made significant progress in the third round of the Diane Thomason Invitational, where the Southern Illinois University (SIU) Salukis competed against several major teams. The event, hosted by the University of Iowa, concluded on Tuesday in Iowa City.

The Salukis performed best during the first and third rounds, securing eighth and tenth positions respectively. However, they fell behind after the second round. Head Coach Rory Weinfurther attributed this to fatigue and a lack of experience with playing two rounds in one day.

"I think a lot of it was fatigue and maybe some mental toughness because it was such a long day, different type of course and layout we don't see too often," she said. "Weather conditions were also a little different but overall it was a good test and learning experience as we get to compete against some really good teams."

In terms of individual performances, Kayla Sayyalinh finished 30th with a score of 234 (+18), while Pihla Pennanen came in 37th with 236 (+20). Ella Overstreet and Kylee Vaughan both tied for 66th place at 246 (+30), followed by Calli Smith at 78th with 252 (+28).

Sayyalinh and Pennanen continue to lead their team effectively, as noted by Coach Weinfurther. "I think they challenge the girls to be better as well and we all see that we can do well at these places," she said. "They're definitely huge motivators for the team and they show me they want to keep getting better."

The Salukis will have a week off before participating in another event in Iowa City on September 30.

For updates on the team's activities, fans can follow them on X (@SIU_WGolf), Facebook (@Saluki Women's Golf), and Instagram (@siu_wgolf).