Bradley University Athletics

Women's Golf Takes 3-Shot Lead in Dual at SIU

Megan Welch paces the field with an opening-round 73

GolfStat Scoring

Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications Women's Golf 3/13/2021 6:21:00 PM

CARBONDALE, IL – Paced by sophomore Megan Welch's 1-over-par, 73, Bradley Women's Golf staked itself to a 3-shot lead in its dual match against Southern Illinois following Saturday's first round at Hickory Ridge.

Bradley's four scoring players totaled a first-round 300 Saturday, three shots better than the 303 posted by SIU's top four finishers. In addition to Welch, senior Taylor Ledwein is tied for second, just one shot off the pace at +2 (74), while Elyse Emerzian is tied for sixth at +4 (76) with Sarah Nacos and Maddie Hawkins joined in a 3-way tie for eighth at +5 (77).

All nine Bradley team members are competing against 10 student-athletes from Southern Illinois in this weekend's 36-hole dual tournament. Mara Flaherty and Harriet Barker are tied for 12th at +6 (78), Zeynep Ergelmis is tied for 15th at +8 (80) and Vaijayanti Bharkhada is 19th at +13 (85).

Welch bogeyed two of her first three holes Saturday, but made 14 pars and one birdie the rest of the way to pace the field with her 73. Saturday's effort was Welch's 18th of 27 career rounds in the 70s.

Ledwein closed to within one of her teammate in a tie for second with a birdie on the par-4 18th hole to finish day one at +2 (74). Saturday's effort was Ledwein's 92nd career round in the 70s.

The teams will conclude their dual tournament with the final 18 holes Sunday, a 10 a.m. shotgun start at Hickory Ridge.

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