Bradley University Athletics

Welch & Braves Finish Ninth At Rio Verde Invite

Duane Zehr, Bradley University ITPS

Rio Verde Invitational Results

Women's Golf 2/23/2020 8:33:00 PM

RIO VERDE, Ariz. – Sophomore Megan Welch fired a pair of 72's to match her career-best round and tie for ninth overall, while Bradley Women's Golf climbed six spots in the team standings into ninth Sunday on the final day of the 18^th annual Rio Verde Invitational.

The Braves started the day in a tie for 15^th in the team standings, but turned in rounds of 300 and 302 Sunday at the Rio Verde Country Club's par-72 White Wing Course after a first-round 318 Friday to jump into ninth in the 18-team standings.

Welch helped lead the Bradley surge with a pair of 72's, carding seven of her nine birdies on the final day. She finished at seven-over 223 to tie for ninth overall for her first career top-10 finish. Welch was three shots out of the top five and eight back of individual medalist Grayson Gladden of Arkansas State, who shot a one-under 215.

Senior Taylor Ledwein missed her third top-10 showing of the year by two strokes, tying for 18^th at 225. Ledwein had her best round of the tournament during Sunday's first round with a 72 and carded a 77 in the afternoon.

Fellow Senior Megan Medinger improved each of the three rounds of Bradley's spring opener, following Friday's first-round 82 with a 78 Sunday morning and capping the tournament with a three-over 75. Medinger tied for 50^th overall at 235.

Freshman Mara Flaherty fired a pair of 78's during Sunday's action after a first round 82 to close the spring opener tied for 68^th at 238. Sophomore Elyse Emerzian rounded out Bradley's team scoring in a tie for 82^nd at 245, posting a second-round 79 and closing out the Rio Verde Invite with a third-round 85.

Sophomore Sarah Nacos was in the field as an individual and used a final round 79 to move into a tie for 79^th at 244. Nacos posted a second-round 81 to start Sunday's action.

Arkansas State had three of the top six individual finishers and claimed the team title by 12 strokes at 16-over 880. Northern Illinois was second at 892, while Xavier was third 903. Bradley finished ninth overall (920), three shots back of eighth-place Little Rock (917) and seven behind seventh-place Wichita State (913). The Braves were the top Missouri Valley Conference team in the 18-team field, finishing three shots better than Missouri State (11^th – 923) and five ahead of Illinois State (12^th – 925).

Bradley returns to action March 9 & 10 at the River Landing Classic in Wilmington, N.C.

Print Friendly Version