PEORIA, Ill. -- Southern Illinois followed up a first-round 310 with the best round of the day at 312 in Tuesday's second round, to claim the team title at the Missouri Valley Conference Preview at the par-72, 6,043-yard WeaverRidge Golf Club. The Bradley women's golf team finished up its fall schedule with a third-place finish, finishing 12 shots behind the Salukis.
Southern Illinois was the only team to have three players shoot in the 70's during Tuesday's final round of play, with Christine Zoerlein tying for the low round of the day with a second-round 75. Zoerlein's final round 75 helped her earn a share of medalist honors, tying teammate Kelly Gerlach at nine-over par 153. Josie Lowder shot a final round 78 to help Southern Illinois shoot 312 on the day and finish with a two-round total of 622.
Missouri State entered the day in second place, two shots behind the Salukis, but the Bears shot 315 on the last day of play and were unable to cut into the SIU lead as they finished five shots back at 627. Lyndsey Adams opened the day with a two-shot lead on the field, but shot a final round 80 to slip into a two-way tie for third place at 154 and finish one shot behind the SIU duo of Zoerlein and Gerlach.
Bradley was three shots behind Southern Illinois when the second round started, but carded a 321 to finish third at 634. Junior Whitney Cox and senior Charlotte McGinnis tied for low-round honors of the day for the Braves as both shot 79 during Tuesday's action. Sophomore Bari-Lynn Erais fired an 81 and finished tied for 10th with Cox at 157 for the two-round event.
Junior Rikki Sobel was tied for 17th at 160 after shooting 82 in the final round and was one shot ahead of McGinnis who finished alone in 20th place at 161.
The Braves finished one shot ahead of I-74 rival Illinois State, which was fourth at 635. Northern Iowa shot 318 Tuesday to place fifth at 642, while Wichita State was one shot better than the Panthers at 317 in the final round and finished sixth at 643. Indiana State was 20 shots behind the Shockers in seventh at 663, with Drake (8th - 671) and Creighton (9th - 678) completing the field, respectively.
Bradley concluded the Fall schedule with third-place finishes or better in each of the four events the Braves participated in. Bradley is scheduled to open the Spring schedule Feb. 26 & 27 at the Islander Invitational in Corpus Christi, Texas. The Braves will serve as host for the 2007 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Women's Golf Championship, April 15-17 at WeaverRidge Golf Club.
