PANORA, Iowa. -- Sophomore Caitlin Deeken (California, Mo./California) was one of just nine players to shoot in the 70's in the final round of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Women's Golf Championship as she helped the Braves to an eighth place finish at the par-72 Lake Panorama National Golf Course.
Deeken fired the low round of the day for Bradley with a third-round 79 to climb into a tie for 41st at 247. Cold and wet playing conditions made for difficult play as only nine of the 50 individuals in the field shot rounds under 80. Braidy Hood of Southern Illinois turned in the low round of the day with a four-over par 76.
Sophomore Breanne Neufeld (Coaldale, Alberta/Coaldale) was Bradley's top finisher, trying for 16th in the field at 236, following a final round of 84. Senior Bari Erais (Lethbridge, Alberta/Lethbridge Collegiate Institute) closed out her collegiate career with a third-round score of 81 to finish two shots behind Neufeld in a tie for 22nd at 238.
Freshman Kelly Amundrud (Calgary, Alberta/Strathcona Tweedsmuir) shot an 86 Sunday to earn a share of 24th place at 239, while Deeken moved into a tie for 41st at 247 following her final round 79. Freshman Erin Gorman (Rockford, Ill./Boylan) finished two shots behind Deeken in a tie for 44th place after shooting an 83 Sunday to finish at 249.
Illinois State's Stacey Miller took medalist honors with a three-round total of 225 to edge defending medalist Olivia Lansing (226) of Drake by one shot. Miller helped lead the Redbirds to the team title with a score of 921 to finish 12 shots ahead of second-place Drake (933). Wichita State was two shots behind tournament-host Drake in third place at 935.
Northern Iowa shot a 325 Sunday to edge out Missouri State for fourth place with a score of 941. Missouri State followed in fifth place at 942, while Indiana State was sixth overall at 945. Creighton used the best round of the final day (317) to move ahead of the Braves into seventh place at 946, while the Braves shot 327 and finished seven shots back of the Bluejays in eighth at 953. Southern Illinois moved into ninth place in the final standings at 964 with Evansville rounding out the field in 10th at 977.
The State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Women's Golf Championship concluded the 2008-09 season for the Bradley women's golf team. The Braves return five of seven letterwinners next season, including Amundrud who led the team with a 77.9 stroke average and 19 rounds in the 70's. Bradley loses Erais and senior Lauren Downing (Rockton, Ill./Hononegah) to graduation, but return five of the top six performers from 2008-09. Erais finished her career as the Braves all-time leader in rounds played (108), stroke average (77.7) top-10 finishes (21) and rounds in the 70's (73).
