Bradley University Athletics

Men’s Golf Leads Houston Baptist Invite

Barathwaj Rudraboina

Men's Golf 2/26/2018 8:04:00 PM

SPRING, Texas – Bradley Men's Golf opened its spring schedule in impressive fashion and leads the 13-team field at the Colin Montgomerie Houston Baptist Invitational after 36 holes at the par-72 Augusta Pines Golf Club Monday.

All five Bradley individuals are at even par (144) or better through 36 holes and the Braves boast four of the top 15 individuals in the field, paced by senior Ethan Brue at four-under 140.

As a team, Bradley sits at 10-under 566 and holds a one-shot edge on second-place Abilene Christian (567). One of five Texas schools in the field, UTRGV is third overall at even par 576, while Northern Colorado (577) and Weber State (580) round out the five squads.

No Bradley individual shot over par on the first day of the spring season with the team posting a seven-under 281 in the morning only to follow it up with a three-under 285 in the afternoon. The first-round 281 was the best round of the season for the Braves and tied for the fourth-best team round in program history.

The three-under 285 in the second round is tied for the 12^th best team round in school history as the Braves turned in their second-lowest 36-hole team score (566) behind only a 563 in the first two rounds of last spring's Hoosier Invitational in Bloomington, Ind. All told Bradley fired 31 birdies with junior Drake Bushong turning in eight himself, including three consecutive birdies in the late stages of the second round.

Brue was the top individual performer for the Braves and heads into Tuesday's final round tied for fourth overall at four-under 140 after shooting a pair of 70's thanks in part to a bogie free opening round.

Redshirt junior Daniel Lensing had the low round of the day for Bradley with a career-best three-under 69 in the opening round. He shot a second-round 72 and is one shot back of Brue in a tie for seventh at three-under 141.

Bushong opened the spring with a season-best two-under 70 and closed the day at two-under 142 in a tie for 11^th. He fired five birdies in the second round and eight for the day, closing out Monday's action with a 72 as he moved ahead of John Joyce for 10^th in school history in career sub-80 rounds with his 77^th.

Fellow senior Matthew Specht is just three shots back of Brue and one of four Bradley players in the top 20 in a tie for 15^th at one-under 143. Specht matched a season-best with second-round one-under 71 after an opening-round 72.

Redshirt senior Zach Jewell sits one shot out of the top in a tie for 21^st at even par 144, after carding a pair of 72's Monday to round out the team scoring the Braves.

The final round of the Colin Montgomerie Houston Baptist Invitational is slated to get under way Tuesday at 8 a.m. For live scoring visit https://www.birdiefire.com/tournament/44713/

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