ONEONTA, Ala. ? Junior Bari Erais (Lethbridge, Alberta/Lethbridge Collegiate Institute) matched her career-best with a first-round 70 and was one of three Bradley women's golfers to card a career-best round to help the Braves finish day one at the Samford Intercollegiate in a tie for sixth place. Senior Whitney Cox (Edmonton, Alberta/Harry Ainlay) and freshman Caitlin Deeken (California, Mo./California) also turned in career highs during day one of play at the par-72 Limestone Springs Golf Club.
The Braves shot 310 in the morning, but turned in the lowest round of the spring and best round since a Fall opening round of 301, with a second round 303 to finish the first day of play in a tie for sixth-place in the 15-team field.
Erais led the way in the morning round with a two-under par 70, matching her career-best round and tying for the third-best 18-hole effort in school history. The only player in program history with three rounds of 70 or better, Erais followed up her season-best score in the morning with a second-round 77 and is tied for eighth place at 147. She is six shots behind individual leader Tara Goedeken of Tulsa, who shot rounds of 70 and 71.
Cox turned in a 79 in the morning, but was the top Bradley golfer in the afternoon with a one-under par 71. The second-round 71 is the first career round under par for Cox and is three shots better than her previous career best. She heads into Tuesday's final round in a tie for 17th at 150.
Freshman Breanne Neufeld (Coaldale, Alberta/Coaldale) shot an 84 in the first round, but had a better afternoon, shooting a 77 to finish the day at 161 in a tie for 53rd. Senior Rikki Sobel (Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield) is tied with Neufeld for 53rd, after carding rounds of 83 and 78.
Deeken carded her best round as a Brave with a first-round 78 and followed with an 84 to finish the day one shot behind Neufeld and Sobel at 162 and is 57th overall in a field of 84 individuals.
Tulsa holds a commanding 18-shot lead on the field, finishing the day at five-over par 581. Illinois is second at 598, while Murray State rounds out the top three at 599. Jacksonville State is fourth in the team standings at 602 and Chattanooga is fifth at 603. Bradley enters the final round in a three-way tie for sixth place at 613 with Belmont and Missouri Valley Conference rival Missouri State.
Tournament-host Samford is ninth overall at 622, nine shots behind the Braves, and South Alabama completes the top 10 at 626. Birmingham Southern is 11th at 631 and holds a two-shot lead on cross-town rival UAB (633). Western Kentucky sits in 13th at 639, while Xavier (649) and Lipscomb (650), round out the field in 14th and 15th place, respectively.
Bradley closes out play at the Samford Invitational Tuesday with one round of play.
