RIO VERDE, Ariz. - Sophomore Keegan Ryan (Groveland, Ill./Morton) shot a career-best one-over par 72 and four Bradley players fired rounds in the 70's as the Braves turned in their lowest round of the spring and second lowest of the year to highlight Saturday's action at the Rio Verde Invitational at the Rio Verde Country Club's par-71 Quail Run Golf Course.
Ryan was three shots better than her previous season and career-high with her one-over 72 and climbed into a tie for 18th place at 151 heading into Sunday's final round. Sophomore Kelly Amundrud (Calgary, Alberta/Strathcona Tweedsmuir) holds a one-shot lead on Ryan in the individual standings in a tie for 15th at 150, following a second-round 77.
Junior Breanne Neufeld (Coaldale, Alberta/Coaldale) matched Amundrud's second-round 77 with one of her own and is tied for 28th at 154 after 36 holes. Freshman Natalie Wisniewski (Williamsville, N.Y./South) tied her season-best round with a 79 and finished the day five shots behind Neufeld in a tie for 61st (159), while junior Caitlin Deeken (California, Mo./California) rounded out the scoring for the Braves with an 83 Saturday and is tied for 88th (169).
The Braves shot 305 as a team Saturday as they moved from ninth to seventh in the team standings following the second round. The 305 was the best of the spring and lowest since shooting a season-low 301 in the season-opening Payne Stewart Memorial in September.
Michigan shot a three-over par 287 Saturday and holds a 15-shot lead on second-place Arkansas-Little Rock at 578 heading into Sunday's third round. The Trojans are second at 593 and Minnesota follows in third place 597. Eastern Michigan is one shot back of the Gophers in fourth at 598 and holds a two-shot edge on fifth-place Kansas (600).
Xavier finished the day in sixth (608) and is six shots ahead of the Braves (7th - 614). Ball State is three back of the Braves in eighth (617) and Missouri State is ninth overall (618). Toledo rounds out the top 10 at 619 and Northern Arizona finished the day in 11th (621). Cincinnati and tournament-host Western Michigan are tied for 12th (623), while Southern Illinois is six shots behind in 14th place at 629. Ohio is 15th in the standings (635) and Penn State checks in at 16th overall (636). Akron (17th - 638) and Bowling Green (18th - 661) round out the field, respectively.
Bradley closes out play at the Rio Verde Invitational Sunday with one round of play.
