PEORIA, Ill. -- Freshman Breanne Neufeld (Coaldale, Alberta/Coaldale) and junior Bari Erais (Lethbridge, Alberta/Lethbridge Collegiate Institute) tied for low honors of the day for the Bradley women's golf team, both shooting 76 during Saturday's second round of the Rio Verde Invitational as the Braves will head into Sunday's final round at the par-72 Quail Run Golf Course at the Rio Verde Country Club in 13th place.
The Braves were one shot better during Saturday's play than they were in Friday's opening round, carding a 308, but Bradley slipped one spot in the team standings into 13th place after finishing the day at 617. Neufeld is the top individual for the Braves after 36 holes of play, ending the day in a tie for 17th place at 150 after her second round 76.
Erais moved into a tie for 31st overall in the field of 107 golfers at 154 after improving by two shots during Saturday's action by turning in a second-round 76. Senior Whitney Cox (Edmonton, Alberta/Harry Ainlay) also improved by two shots in the second round, matching her season low with a 77 and will begin Sunday's final round tied for 43rd at 156.
Freshman Caitlin Deeken (California, Mo./California) also matched her season-low round with a second-round score 79 and is tied for 74th at 161. Senior Rikki Sobel (Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield) is one shot behind Deeken at 162 and is tied for 82nd after her second round 84, while junior Lauren Downing (Rockton, Ill./Hononeagh) is 105th after carding an 87 during Saturday's play to finish the day at 180.
Notre Dame turned in the best round of the tournament Saturday, shooting a two-over par 290 to take over the team lead. The Fighting Irish have a seven-shot lead over Minnesota which finished the day at 591. Texas Tech is third in the team standings at 597, while Arkansas-Little Rock is fourth overall 602. Northern Arizona rounds out the top five at 605 after shooting a 300 in the second round.
Tournament host Western Michigan is sixth at 606, while Missouri Valley Conference rivals Missouri State and Illinois State are tied for seventh at 610. Ball State is one shot back in ninth place at 611 and Eastern Michigan follows at 612 in 10th place. Wisconsin moved into 11th at 613. Toledo is one shot in front of the Braves in 12th place at 616, while Bradley is 13th at 617. Cincinnati is four shots behind BU in 14th at 621. Bowling Green rounds out the top 15 at 626 and Southern Illinois (16th - 631), Xavier (17th - 632) and Ohio (18th - 657) complete the field, respectively.
The Braves close out play at the Rio Grande Invitational Sunday with one round of play. Live stats for Sunday's final round are available via the golfstat website at www.golfstat.com
