Golf Teams Take Sixth At Golfweek Program Challenge

Southern Illinois University

Men's Golf 9/11/2018 3:49:00 PM

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Entering Tuesday's final round of the 2018 Golfweek Program Challenge fourth overall, the Bradley men's and women's golf teams slipped to sixth of 14 teams in the final overall standings of the season-opening three-day event.

The women's squad shot a 20-over par 304 on the final day at the par-71 Caledonia Gold & Fish Club to tie South Dakota for seventh at 906 in the women's standings. On the men's side, senior Drake Bushong carded a three-under 69 at the par-72 True Blue Golf Club to help the Braves shoot a 4-over 292 and finish ninth overall at one-under 863.

In addition to crowning team champs in both the men's and women's tournament, the Golfweek Program Challenge featured men's and women's squads from 14 NCAA Division I schools with the school owning the lowest combined score crowned overall champion. Campbell, which has claimed five of the previous six overall titles entering this year's event, won the overall championship by 91 strokes with a combined 66-under 1650.

Jacksonville State took second by two strokes at 1741 over third-place Delaware (1743). Bradley was sixth overall at 1769, six shots back of fifth-place South Dakota (1763) and 14 shots behind fourth-place Gardner-Webb. The Braves had a three-shot advantage on seventh-place Stephen F. Austin (1772) and were six shots better than eighth-place Florida Gulf Coast (1775) in the overall standings.

The Bradley men's team carded the eighth-lowest 54-hole score in program history at one-under 863. Bushong tied for 15th overall at 3-under par 213, closing out the tournament with a three-under 69 as he fired his eighth career round in the 60's which is tied for third most in school history. The 213 matched the second lowest 54-hole score of Bushong's career and was his best three-round total since his freshman season.

Senior Michael Mounce closed out the lowest 54-hole tournament of his Bradley career at one-under 215 with a two-over 74 as he tied for 24th overall individually. Junior Charles Jahn matched Mounce with a final round 74 to finish two shots back of Mounce in a tie for 33rd at 217.

Senior Daniel Lensing followed up a pair of 73's in the first two rounds with a three-over 75, tying for 48th in the 75-person field at 221. Fellow senior Branden Mounce completed the team scoring for the Bradley men in a tie for 59th (225), turning in an 80 Tuesday.

The Bradley women's team held on to earn a share of seventh-place in the final women's standings at 906, posting the 11th-best 54-hole team score in program history. Senior Frankie Saban picked up where she left off in 2017-18 after pacing the Braves at the MVC Championship, leading the way for Bradley in the 2018-19 season opener. She tied for 25th overall at 10-over par 223, carding a three-over 74 on the final day.

Junior Taylor Ledwein followed up her career-best 68 from Monday's second round with a 77 to finish 28th overall at 225, while fellow junior Megan Medinger matched her second round 74 during Tuesday's action to tie for 33rd overall at 229. Sophomore Maddie Hawkins and senior Brooke Thompson both closed out the Golfweek Program Challenge with final round 79's. Hawkins tied for 44th overall at 233, edging Thompson by one stroke (T49th - 234).

The Bradley women's team returns to action next Monday and Tuesday at the Cardinal Classic in Muncie, Ind. The men's team will also head to the Hoosier State for the Crusader Collegiate in Chesterton, Ind., Monday and Tuesday.

Golfweek Program Challenge Overall Results
School Men's (Place) Women's (Place) Overall