SANTEE, Calif. -- Freshman Earl Gerlach (Normal, Ill./Normal West) matched his first round 77 with a five-over par 77 Tuesday to finish in the top 20 for the first time in his career and help the Bradley men's golf team move up one spot into seventh place in the final standings at the Carlton Oaks Invitational at the par-72 Carlton Oaks Country Club.

Gerlach was the Braves top finisher and the only Bradley player to card both rounds in the 70's, shooting a pair of 77's to tie for 18th in the individual standings at 154. Sophomore Coby Thompson (East Galesburg, Ill./Knoxville) finished four shots back of Gerlach in a tie for 31st at 158 after shooting an 80 in the second round.

Sophomore Nathan Perry (Normal, Ill./Normal West) carded a final round 82 to finish tied for 43rd at 162 and freshman Chris Niemiec (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles) was eight shots better in the second round, firing a 78 to finish one shot behind Perry in a tie for 46th at 163. Junior Zach Wanken (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg) shaved six shots off his opening round and tied for 59th at 168 following his final round of 81.

Western Illinois shot the best round of the day (295) to overtake tournament-host Drake and take the team title with a two-round total of 596. Drake took second at 599, while Cal State Bakersfield was four shots behind the Leathernecks in third at 600. North Dakota State was fourth among NCAA Division I teams in the field at 609 and was followed by Cal Poly at 611.

Utah Valley finished four shots ahead of the Braves in sixth at 632, while Bradley used a final round 316 to move up one spot into seventh at 636. Army was seven shots behind Bradley in eighth (643), while North Dakota rounded out the field in ninth at 662.

The Braves return to action March 2-3 at the Grover Page Classic in Jackson, Tenn.