MURRAY, Ky. -- Bradley turned in its best team score since the 1975-76 season with a final-round 282 Tuesday at the Murray State Invitational, played at the par-71 Miller Memorial Golf Course, to finish tied for fifth in the final team standings. The Braves two-under par 282 helped Bradley climb into a tie for fifth after starting the day in eighth place.
The Braves began play Tuesday in a tie eighth place at 593 after shooting rounds of 298 and 295. Bradley turned in the second best round of the tournament during today's action, however, to finish tied with Morehead State for fifth place at 875. The 282 shot by the Braves is the lowest round carded by BU since shooting 282 in a dual match during the 1975-76 season.
Seniors Scott Phegley and Ryan Saurs led the charge for the Braves, both carding one-under par 70 during Tuesday's action. Phegley matched his season best with a 70 in the final round and moved into third place at two-under par 211. He currently owns a team-best 70.8 stroke average at the halfway point of the fall season.
Saurs 70 was a career best and moved him into a tie for 33rd place overall at 224. A day after shooting a season-best 73 during the second round of play, junior Nick Roth was able to fire an even-par 71 and finished tied for 27th place at 222. Fellow junior Tommie Ackerman nearly matched his own season-best score, shooting 71 to finish in a nine-way tie for 33rd place at 224.
Tournament-host Murray State was the only team to shoot better than the Braves Tuesday, firing a three-under par 281. The Racers claimed the title with a three-round total of 858. Tennessee Tech was six shots back in second place at 864 after shooting 288. Indianapolis and Northern Iowa tied for third overall at 869 with Morehead State and Bradley following in a tie for fifth place at 875.
Tennessee State was seventh at 882, while Lewis (8th - 888), Southern Illinois (9th - 891), Murray State #2 (10th - 892), Tennessee-Martin (11th - 896) and Loyola (12th - 897) following in eighth through 12th place and separated by just nine shots. Tennessee-Martin's second team was 13th overall at 902 while Birmingham Southern and Chicago State rounded out the field tied for 14th at 922.
Bradley returns to action October 16 & 17 at the IPFW Invitational in Auburn, Ind.
