Bradley University Athletics

Women’s Golf Fifth After Day One At Redbird Invite

Women's Golf 9/5/2021 7:47:00 PM

NORMAL, Ill. – Freshman Maria Perakis fired a one-under 71 in the opening round of the Redbird Invitational and is tied with senior Megan Welch for 15^th as the duo helped Bradley Women's Golf finish Sunday's opening two rounds of the 54-hole event in a tie for fifth in the 16-team field.

Making her collegiate debut, Perakis fired four birdies in her first round as a Brave; including three consecutive birdies on the back nine during an opening round one-under 71 at the par-72 Weibring Golf Club. The one-under 71 ranks as the second-best round by a Bradley freshman in their debut behind only a 70 posted by Breanne Neufeld to start the 2007-08 season at the Brickyard Invitational.

Perakis is tied for the team lead at four-over 148 with Welch, who fired a pair of two-over 74's during Sunday's action. Perakis carded a five-over 77 in the second round as the pair enter Monday's final round two shots out of the top 10.

Junior Mara Flaherty matched her low round from her sophomore season with a two-over 74 in the day's first round. She is four back of Welch and Perakis in a tie for 36^th at eight-over (152) after firing a second-round 78.

Freshman Kathryn McNease was strong in her debut as well, chasing a four-over 76 from the first round with a 79 to close the day at 11-over 155 in a tie for 53^rd. Senior Sarah Nacos rounded out the scoring for the Braves in a tie for 59^th at 156, turning in matching 78's.

Bradley's first-round 295 was the team's lowest score since October 2019 with the Braves finishing the day tied with Missouri Valley Conference Drake for fifth at 26-over (602). Eastern Kentucky holds a five-shot lead on the field at four-under 572 with IUPUI second at one-over (577). Northern Illinois sits in third (590) and Butler holds a seven-shot edge on Bradley in fourth at 595. Ball State is three shots back of Bradley and Drake in seventh (605), while Northern Iowa is four behind the Braves in eighth at 606.

The final round of the Redbird Invitational will tee off Monday morning at 8:30 a.m.

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