Bradley University Athletics

Brue Defends Title At Crusader Collegiate; Bradley Men Second

Barathwaj Rudraboina

2017 Crusader Collegiate Final Results

Men's Golf 9/6/2017 4:29:00 PM

CHESTERTON, Ind. -- Senior Ethan Brue opened his final collegiate season just like he did his Bradley career last fall by claiming medalist honors at the Crusader Collegiate and helping the Bradley men's golf team open its 2017-18 season with a second-place finish.

Brue won last year's Crusader Collegiate individual title by one stroke at two-under 214, but had a larger margin for error this season as he edged Loyola's Orion Yamat by two shots for the top individual spot in the 2017 field. After rounds of 74 and one-under 71 at the par-72 Sand Creek Country Club Tuesday, Brue held off a hard-charging Yamat with a two-over 74. Yamat's three-under 69 on the final day helped him finish at five-over 221 for the two-day event, two shots back of Brue's 219.

The medalist honor was the fourth career win as a Brave for Brue as he matched the school record for career medalist honors. Former Bradley standout Lyle Burns also won four individual titles between the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.

Bradley turned in its best round of the tournament and tied Wright State for low-round honors in the final round with a nine-over par 297. The Braves started the day in a tie for second, four shots out of the lead, and ended up finishing four shots back of team champion Wright State (914) alone in second at 918. Tournament-host Valparaiso was third in the team standings (921) with Loyola rounding out the four-team field in fourth (924).

The Bradley lineup featured two individuals appearing in the team's lineup for the first time in sophomore Charles Jahn and freshman Miguel Montelongo.

Junior Drake Bushong saved his best for last, firing a one-over 73 on the final day to finish one shot out of the top 10 in a tie with Jahn for 12th at 233. Jahn, who carded a final round 78, was one of three Braves to shoot three sub-80 rounds in the season-opening event and matched Bushong at 233 to tie for 12th in the first 54-hole tournament of his Bradley career.

Montelongo tied for the low round of the day for the Braves with a 72 to earn his first career top 20 finish (T18th - 239) in his debut. Senior Zach Jewell was one shot back of Montelongo in 21st (240), finishing out the tournament with a 78 to complete Bradley's team scoring.

Bradley had three individuals in the field and boasted three of the top five finishers overall. Junior Michael Mounce and senior Matthew Specht both played as individuals and the pair tied with Wright State's Austin Schoonmaker for third at 224 with the Bradley duo both finishing out play with matching 72's. Junior Sam Range also played as an individual and took 28th (255) after a final round 87.

The Braves return to action next week, taking part in the Golfweek Program Championship Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

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