Golf Teams Open Seasons At Golfweek Program Challenge

Duane Zehr, Bradley University ITPS

Men's Golf 9/7/2018 11:00:00 AM

PEORIA, Ill. -- Both the Bradley men's and women's golf teams will head to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to open their 2018-19 seasons, with the squads taking part in the Golfweek Program Challenge Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

The teams were slated to open the 2017-18 seasons at last year's Golfweek Program Challenge, which was cancelled because of Hurricane Irma, but were invited back for the 2018-19 event. The unique tournament features the men's and women's teams from 14 different schools competing with the scores from both squads added together from the three-day, 54-hole stroke play event to determine the Golfweek Program Challenge champion.

Action gets underway Sunday with the men's teams playing at the par-72, 7,126-yard True Blue Golf Club, while the women's tournament will be held at the par-71, 6,042-yard Caledonia Golf & Fish Club. The teams will play one round each day with each round featuring tee times. BradleyBraves.com will provide links to live scoring throughout the three-day season-opening event.

Joining Bradley in the 14-team field is Missouri Valley Conference rival Valparaiso along with Alabama State, Austin Peay, Campbell, Delaware, Florida Gulf Coast, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville State, Old Dominion, Presbyterian, South Dakota, Stephen F. Austin and Tennessee Tech. Campbell has won five of the previous six Golfweek Program Challenge titles.

On the men's side, Bradley returns six letterwinners from last year's Missouri Valley Conference championship team. Senior Drake Bushong won the MVC medalist title and tied for 28th at the NCAA Bryan Regional to pace the Braves in their first NCAA post-season appearance since 1955. The first three-time All-MVC performer in program history, Bushong was second on the team with a 74.87 stroke average in 2017-18 and posted a 73.67 average last spring. He heads into his senior year with a 73.91 career stroke average, which is third among Bradley career marks and the best average for a four-year letterwinner.

Fellow senior Michael Mounce tied for second at last year's MVC Championship, three shots behind Bushong to earn All-MVC honors in addition to the Valley's Elite 17 Award. Mounce owned a 74.42 stroke average in the spring and posted a pair of top-10 finishes last season.

On the women's side, senior Frankie Saban headlines a group which includes six returning letterwinners. Saban finished second at last year's MVC Championship for the best showing at the Valley Championship by a Brave since Danielle Lemek won the Valley individual title in 2014. The only Brave to finish among the three on the team in all 10 tournaments in 2017-18, Saban led the team with a 76.10 stroke average which is ninth among Bradley season marks. She heads into her final year on The Hilltop with the ninth-best career stroke average (78.25) in school history.

Junior Taylor Ledwein was the fourth individual in program history to earn All-MVC honors as both a freshman and sophomore after ranking seventh in the MVC with a 76.24 stroke average last year. Ledwein's career stroke average of 76.10 per round to start the year is second in Bradley history and she has eight career top-10 finishes after leading the team with two top-10 showings in 2017-18.

The Bradley men's golf team follows up the Golfweek Program Challenge with the Crusader Collegiate in Chesterton, Ind., Sept. 17 & 18. The Bradley women's golf team will also be in the Hoosier State on those same dates, playing in the Cardinal Classic in Muncie, Ind.

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