HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. --
Freshman
Earl Gerlach (Normal, Ill./Normal West) shot a season-best 73 and junior
Zach Wanken (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg) matched Gerlach's 73 to help the Bradley men's golf team climb into 16th place in the final standings of the Austin Peay Intercollegiate Tuesday at the par-72 Links at Novadell.
The Braves shot 296 in the final round moving past Cincinnati into 16th. Gerlach was Bradley's top finisher in the event, tying for 48th at 224 after his season-low round of 73. Sophomore Coby Thompson (East Galeburg, Ill./Knoxville) finished one shot behind Gerlach at 225 after shooting a 75 in the final round to finish in a tie for 52nd.
Wanken matched Gerlach for low round of the day for the Braves with his lowest round of the tournament, a final round 73, and was just two shots behind Gerlach in a tie for 57th at 226. Also turning in a season-best performance in the final round of the Fall was freshman Chris Niemiec (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles), who tied his season-best score with a 75. Niemiec tied for 68th at 229, while sophomore Nathan Perry (Normal, Ill./Normal West) fired an 81 to finish in 89th at 239.
Tournament-host Austin Peay shot a seven-under par Tuesday to claim the team title by nine strokes at 32-under par 832. Missouri was second at 841 and was followed by third-place Belmont at 860. Tennessee-Martin was 10 shots behind Belmont in fourth (870) with Cleveland State rounding out the top five at 873. Limpscomb took sixth at 874, while Tennessee Tech and Dayton tied for seventh at 883.
Eastern Illinois was one shot behind in ninth place (884) with Morehead State and Towson finishing tied for 10th at 887. Tennessee State placed 12th in the 17-team field at 890. Oakland and IPFW tied for 13th at 894 and Wright State followed at 898 to finish 15th. The Braves were six shots back in 16th (904), while Cincinnati completed the field in 17th at 909.
The Austin Peay Intercollegiate was the final event of the Fall for the Bradley men's golf team. The Braves are scheduled to return to action next spring.
