PEORIA, Ill. -- Defending Missouri Valley Conference medalist Olivia Lansing shot an even-par 72 to take medalist honors and help Drake overcome a six-shot deficit as the Bulldogs took the tournament title at the 2009 Hotels at Grand Prairie Collegiate Classic at the par-72, 6,137-year WeaverRidge Golf Club. Drake turned in the best round of the day Sunday with a final round 318 to finish at 632. Tournament-host Bradley was fourth in the team standings, seven shots behind the Bulldogs at 639.
Originally scheduled for 54 holes, the tournament was shortened to 36 holes due to Monday's forecast which is calling for snow and high temperatures around 40 degrees. Missouri State began Sunday's action in first place and held a six-shot lead on Drake, but the Bulldogs were 10 shots better than the Bears and edged Missouri State by four shots. Lansing claimed the individual title with a two-round score of 149 and held a three-shot lead on Missouri State's Kelsey Welber who was second at 152. Bradley freshman Kelly Amundrud (Calgary, Alberta/Strathcona Tweedsmuir) was four shots off the lead at 153 after firing rounds of 77 and 76.
Amundrud matched senior Bari Erais' (Lethbridge, Alberta/Lethbridge Collegiate Institute) school freshman record for rounds in the 70's (18) with her final round 76. Sophomore Breanne Neufeld (Coaldale, Alberta/Coaldale) was also in the top 20, earning a share of 16th place at 163 after carding an 82 during Sunday's play.
Erais made the biggest improvement for the Braves during the second day of play, firing a second-round 78 to finish eight shots better than Saturday. She climbed into a tie for 22nd place at 164. Sophomore Caitlin Deeken (California, Mo./California) was one shot behind Erais in a tie for 27th place at 165, following a final round 86. Freshman Erin Gorman (Rockford, Ill./Boylan) also shot an 86 Sunday to wrap up play and was one shot back of Deeken at 166 in a tie for 32nd place.
Fellow freshman Keegan Ryan (Groveland, Ill./Morton) wrapped up the team scoring for Bradley with an 88 and was tied for 49th at 170. Senior Lauren Downing (Rockton, Ill./Hononegah) was in the field as an individual and finished in 62nd place at 173 after shooting a final round 88.
Drake claimed the team title with a 36-hole score of 632 and Missouri State was second in the field at 636. Indiana State shot the second-best round of the day at 319 to move into third place in the team standings at 638 as the Sycamores edged out fourth-place Bradley (639) by one shot.
Western Illinois and Northern Iowa tied for fifth place at 647 with Eastern Illinois following one shot behind at 648 in seventh. Ohio took eighth (653) with Northern Illinois (9th - 667) and Loyola (10th - 670) rounding out the top 10, respectively. SIU Edwardsville was six shots back in 11th place (676) and was followed by Bowling Green in 12th at 683. Chicago State finished in 13th place (693), while Wisconsin-Green Bay rounded out the field in 14th at 711.
The Braves return to action April 17-19 at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship in Panora, Iowa.
