The Southern Illinois University Salukis Women’s Golf team finished seventh at the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Championship, improving one spot from the previous year, according to an April 22 announcement. The team recorded a total score of +95 for the tournament.
This result marks steady progress for the Salukis, who compete within the Missouri Valley Conference and participate in invitational tournaments across various states, according to the official website. The team is based in Carbondale, Illinois and operates as a collegiate women’s golf program.
Junior Kayla Sayyalinh led the Salukis with a runner-up finish, ending at +13 overall after rounds of +7, +4, and an impressive final round of +2—the lowest score among all competitors that day. Sayyalinh closed her season with three top-10 finishes and one top-two result. Other notable performances included Allie Santos (27th place), Calli Smith (28th), Amelia Zingler (37th), and senior Ella Overstreet concluding her collegiate career in 43rd place.
Head coach Sam Sambursky said he was pleased with how his team developed throughout the season. “I’m really proud of our effort this year,” Sambursky said. “We made a lot of progress and became a more consistent team. We’re just getting started and will keep improving heading into next year. Kayla placing second in the conference is the highest finish we’ve had in many years. I’m excited to have four of our five players returning and to see what we can accomplish.”
With four core players set to return alongside new recruits Poppy Norcott and Taylor Pacheco, Sambursky said he looks forward to building on this year’s momentum for the upcoming 2026–27 season.
