BARTONVILLE, Ill. – Hosting its first home tournament in Central Illinois in over four years, Bradley Women's Golf took fifth in the 12-team field at the Bradley Coyote Creek Classic while defending Big East champion Xavier swept the team and individual medalist titles.
Senior Megan Welch paced the Braves, tying for eighth individually for her second top-10 finish of the season and the fourth of her career.
Xavier had the two two individuals in the field with Emma McMyler running away with the individual medalist crown. McMyler entered the day at eight-under and wrapped up the top spot on the leaderboard with a two-under 70 during Sunday's final round at the par-72 Coyote Creek Golf Club to close at 10-under 206. Her teammate Kara Carter was second at three-under 213, closing out the tournament with a one-over 73.
As a team Xavier finished at seven-over 871, using a final-round 293 to hold off second-place Missouri State by seven shots. The Bears took second at 14-over 878, while Illinois State was third at 891. Green Bay turned in a final round 303 to take fourth at 911, moving up in the standings to edge fifth-place Bradley (912) by a single shot. The Braves carded a 311 in the final round, finishing two up on sixth-place Loyola (914) and 11 strokes better than seventh-place Drake (923).
Welch matched her second-round score of three-over 75 Sunday for the low round of the day for Bradley to tie for eighth at six-over 222, three shots out of the top five.
Finishing two shots out of the top 20 in a tie for 21st at 229, junior Mara Flaherty closed out Bradley's lone home tournament on the schedule with a third-round 79. Freshman Maria Perakis was one back of Flaherty in a tie for 24th at 230 after turning in a final round 77.
Senior Sarah Nacos and freshman Kathryn McNease both earned a share of 34th at 234 to complete the team scoring for the Braves. Nacos carded a final-round 80 with McNease posting an 81 Sunday.
A day removed from her first career hole-in-one, sophomore Vaijayanti Bharkhada was one of two individuals in the field for Bradley, closing out play with an 80 to tie for 27th at 231. A final round 83 from Elyse Emerzian helped the senior tie for 54th overall at 246.
Bradley closes out the 2021 Fall schedule Oct. 24-26 in Hot Springs Village, Ark., at the Little Rock Classic.
