PEORIA, Ill. -- Junior men's golfer Drake Bushong (Pekin, Ill./Pekin) has been named the Bradley COUNTRY Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week after winning medalist honors at the 2018 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Golf Championship and helping the Braves to their first Valley team title.

Bushong claimed medalist honors at the 2018 MVC Men's Golf Championship, shooting a one-over par 217 at the Par-72 Dalhousie County Club in Cape Girardeau, Mo., to win top individual honors by three strokes.  He helped the Braves to their first MVC Men's Golf team title in program history as Bradley locked up its first NCAA appearance since 1955.  Bushong opened up the tournament with a four-over 76 and took the lead in the tournament with a season-best three-under par 69 in the second round.  He finished out the tournament with a 72 to help Bradley claim the team title by 15 shots.  A marketing major, Bushong owns a 3.61 cumulative grade point average. 

Each week, a Bradley student-athlete is selected as the COUNTRY Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week.  The individual chosen must be at least a sophomore in class standing and boast a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average, while displaying a level of athletic excellence.

Bushong and the Braves will learn where they are heading for NCAA Regionals, which will be held May 14-16, when the NCAA Championship field is announced Wednesday, May 2 at 5 p.m. on the Golf Channel.  Fans are invited to join the Braves for the NCAA Selection Watch Party in the Braves Club Room (Renaissance Coliseum), with doors opening for the event at 4 p.m.