Obergoenner earns all-MVC honor

~ The Central graduate tied for fourth with a closing 74.

Former Central standout golfer Todd Obergoenner finished off his senior season at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in style.

Obergoenner, an SIU co-captain, tied for fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference men's golf tournament at Dalhousie Golf Club.

Obergoenner carded a final-round 2-over-par 74 on Tuesday, giving him a 54-hole total of 9-over 225 to earn first team all-MVC honors.

"It [making all-MVC] feels great, because it's what you work for all season," said Obergoenner, an Academic All-American who set a career best with his tie for fourth in the league tournament. "I'm really happy I was able to do it in my last year."

Southern Illinois' Todd Obergoenner eyes his putt on the seventh green during the MVC men's golf tournament Tuesday at Dalhousie Golf Club. (Elizabeth Dodd)

Another former Central standout, SIU junior Blake Driskell, finished 45th with a 38-over 254. He fired an 8-over 80 on Tuesday.

SIU placed third as a team at 915 with a final-round 302. The Salukis finished in the top three for the third time since 2006 and brought to a close one of the most successful seasons in program history.

"We came in with high expectations and played okay for the most part, but it just didn't work out," Obergoenner said. "We kept fighting though and never gave up."

Wichita State repeated as team champion with an 882, outdistancing runner-up Illinois State by 15 strokes.

Missouri State was fourth (929), followed by Drake (931), Evansville (933), Bradley (936), Northern Iowa (937) and Creighton (952).

Wichita State teammates Dustin Garza and Connor McHenry shared medalist honors at even-par 216. McHenry had a 2-under 70 on Tuesday, while Garza came in at even-par 72.