Bradley University Athletics

Saban & Ledwein Pace Braves To Tie For Fifth at Rio Verde Invite

Rio Verde Invitational Final Results

Women's Golf 2/24/2019 8:06:00 PM

RIO VERDE, Ariz. – Bradley Women's Golf had two of the three individuals in the field in senior Frankie Saban and junior Taylor Ledwein and the Braves climbed into a tie for fifth in the final team standings at the 17^th annual Rio Verde Invitational Sunday.

Entering the day tied for 10^th after Saturday's opening round 306 at the Rio Verde Country Club's par-71 Quail Run Course, Bradley was six shots better on the final day and carded the fourth lowest round of the day with a 300 to move into a tie for fifth overall with Arkansas State at 606. The 606 tied for the fifth-lowest 36-hole team score in Bradley history.

Bradley was one shot behind fourth-place Western Michigan (605) and eight shots back of third-place Boise State (598). Xavier won the team title at 591 to edge defending champion Seton Hall (594) by three strokes. The Braves were three shots better than former Valley rival Wichita State, which took seventh (609) in the 18-team field that also included Illinois State (T12th – 616) and Missouri State (17^th – 625).

Ledwein was the only individual under par during Sunday's action, firing her lowest round of the spring at one-under 70.

Saban was Bradley's top finisher, however, matching her first round 72 on the final day to finish at two-over (144) to tie the second-lowest 36-hole score in program history behind Kelly Amundrud's 143 at the 2010 Butler Fall Invitational in Indianapolis, Ind. Saban was second in the 101-person field, two shots behind individual medalist Claire Hernandez (142) of Western Michigan to earn her second top-10 finish of the year and seventh of her career.

Ledwein's one-under 70 vaulted her 13 spots in the final standings into third overall as she finished one shot back of Saban at three-over 145. The third-place finish was Ledwein's 10^th career top-10 finish and second of the 2018-19 campaign. She tied the fifth lowest individual 36-hole score in Bradley history.

Junior Megan Medinger also carded her lowest round of the spring with a six-over 77 Sunday to finish tied for 55^th overall 157. Senior Brooke Thompson tied for 75^th (162) after wrapping up the weekend with an 83, while freshman Elyse Emerzian was one shot behind Thompson in a tie for 78th (163), closing out the tournament with a second-round 81 to round out Bradley's lineup.

In the field as an individual, sophomore Maddie Hawkins also had her best round of the Rio Verde Invite in Sunday's round with an 82 to tie for 87^th overall at 165.

Bradley returns to action March 24 & 25 at the Babs Steffens Hatter Collegiate in Daytona Beach, Fla.

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