PEORIA, Ill. – After nearly a month off from competition since opening the season in Jacksonville, Fla., Bradley Women's Golf heads to Carbondale, Ill., this weekend for a duel against Missouri Valley Conference rivel Southern Illinois Saturday and Sunday.
The Braves and Salukis will square off at the par-72 Hickory Ridge Golf Center, opening the 36-hole duel Saturday at 11 a.m. The teams wrap up the event Sunday with a single round starting at 10:45 a.m.
Southern Illinois won the 2019 MVC title, while Bradley finished third in the last conference championship which was held in Chesterton, Ind. During the shortened 2019-20 season, the Braves ranked second in the MVC in the final Golfstat.com rankings with SIU following in third place.
Bradley's three true freshmen are slated to make their collegiate debuts as all nine individuals are expected to play in the duel. The BU lineup will consist of senior Taylor Ledwein along with underclassmen Elyse Emerzian, Mara Flaherty, Sarah Nacos and Megan Welch with the rest of the team playing as individuals.
Bradley, which is playing its first duel since March 2013 (Jacksonville State), opened up the 2020-21 season back on Feb. 15 & 16 at the First Coast Classic in Jacksonville, Fla., where Flaherty tied for 56th to pace the Braves after rounds of 74 and 76 to open.
Junior Maddie Hawkins, who will play as individual this weekend, had a strong finish at the season opener, posting scores of 78 and 79 in the final two rounds to finish out play at the First Coast Classic and has been in the 70's in eight of her last nine rounds dating back to last season.
Senior Taylor Ledwein owns the low round of the year for the Braves with a one-over 73 in the second round of the season-opening First Coast Classic. Ledwein is closing in on second in school history in career rounds in the 70's, needing two sub-80 scores to tie former teammate for second at 94.
Bradley will have another break from competition before taking part in the Diane Daugherty Invitational March 29 & 30 in Kirkwood, Mo.
