Southern Illinois University’s men’s golf team will compete in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship starting April 26 at Annbriar Golf Course in Waterloo, Illinois. The Salukis enter the three-day tournament after finishing second at the Hawkeye Invitational and are seeking their fifth conference title in ten years.
The championship is significant for Southern Illinois, which has built a reputation as one of the leading programs in its conference. The team has previously won four MVC titles—in 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2024—and was selected as the preseason favorite this year.
The event will be played over 54 holes on a par-71 course, with tee times beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday and Monday and an earlier start on Tuesday. This marks the first time since 2000 that Annbriar hosts the MVC championship. Defending champion Illinois State leads all programs with seven titles but faces competition from several teams ranked by Clippd national rankings: Southern Illinois (110), Illinois State (134), Drake (208), Murray State (214), Belmont (235), Evansville (249), Bradley (258), Valparaiso (268), and Northern Iowa (281).
Justin Fetcho serves as director of golf and head coach for Southern Illinois, according to the official website. The Salukis’ roster features nine players from various hometowns across the United States and internationally—including Belgium, Costa Rica, South Korea, and Denmark—reflecting a diverse lineup according to the official website.
Players have earned individual titles and weekly conference honors throughout recent seasons according to the official website. As members of both Southern Illinois University and the Missouri Valley Conference according to the official website, they have delivered competitive results in collegiate tournaments according to the official website.
With depth throughout its lineup—including Jaeseung Na, Anthony De Schutter, Blake Saffell, Lucas Lasley, Frank Bellino, and Ben Keil—the team is positioned to contend for another MVC crown this week.
