More often than not the history book followed the 1994 Salem Lady Wildcats golf team. Under the direction of first-year coach Mary Riley, the Lady Wildcats had an undefeated regular season in nine-hole matches wi1h a 25-0 record.

That regular season record also included first place finishes at the Benton and Olney Invitational’s, a second place mark at the Edwardsville Invitational and a fourth place effort at the Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin Blazer Classic.

The Lady Wildcats broke school team records for lowest nine-hole and 18-hole scores. Melissa Cantrell also broke the school record for the lowest individual score in an 18-hole match.

A furious pace on the back nine enabled the Lady Wildcats to win the Carbondale regional championship by 19 strokes over the host school, 383-402.

Salem trailed by three strokes through the first nine holes, but out shot the Lady Terriers by 22 strokes over the final nine.

Elisabeth Somer led the Lady Wildcats with a fourth place individual finish with an 89. Gretchen Clark and Cantrell compiled rounds of 97 and Janelle Hopkins was the final counter with 100.

Salem advanced to the Mattoon Sectional where it came away with its first sectional crown since 1991 and just the second in the program’s history.

The Lady Wildcats once again ran away from the rest of the competition, as their winning score of 393 beat runner-up Edwardsville by 21 strokes.

Only four players were able to shoot below 100 in extreme windy conditions.

Salem had two of those, as Cantrell led the way with a 94 and Somer followed with a 97.

A 100 by Clark and a 102 by Carrie Eller rounded out the top four team scoring.

Salem ended its season with an 11th place finish out of 13 teams at the state meet.

The Lady Wildcats were last in the field after day one with a 396, but improved that score by nine strokes in day two of the competition to move ahead of two schools.

Randa Vogt and Clark led Salem with identical two-day totals of 191, while Somer was two shots back with 193.

Cantrell and Eller tied for the final counter spot with 212.

Hopkins also competed for the Lady Wildcats at state and shot a 219. Salem finished the season wi1h a 58-15 record.