Bradley University Athletics

Women’s Golf Takes Fifth At Redbird Invitational

Results

Women's Golf 9/6/2021 2:15:00 PM

NORMAL, Ill. – Bradley Women's Golf opened the 2021-22 season with its lowest 54-hole team score in nearly two years and the Braves had a pair of individuals place in the top 10 to lead BU to a fifth-place team finish in the 16-team field at the season-opening Redbird Invitational.

Freshman Maria Perakis and senior Megan Welch both tied for ninth in the field at five-over 221 with the duo both carding final round 73's at the par-72 Weibring Golf Club. Perakis and Welch helped Bradley match its first round score of 295 during Monday's action as the Braves finished fifth in the field at 897. The three-round 897 is the eighth time in program history Bradley shot under 900 for a 54-hole tournament and was the team's best three-round total since wrapping up the 2019 Fall schedule with an 881 at the Little Rock Classic.

Perakis was strong in her collegiate debut, finishing at five-over 221 for the lowest 54-hole score by a Bradley freshman in a debut. The previous low 54-hole score by a Bradley freshman in their first outing was 224 by Mara Flaherty at the 2019 Redbird Invitational.

Welch was also impressive, carding the lowest 54-hole score of her Bradley career to earn her third career top-10 finish. Her previous career-best three-round total was 223 at the Rio Verde Invitational to open the Spring 2020 season.

Flaherty matched her first round score with a 74 Monday to tie for 25^th overall at 226. Freshman Kathryn McNease closed out her first outing as a Brave with her best round of the tournament. A final round 75 helped McNease move into a tie for 48^th in the final standings (230). Senior Sarah Nacos completed the team scoring for Bradley, tying for 76^th at 240 after shooting a final round 84.

Eastern Kentucky claimed the team title at four-under 860, with IUPUI 10 shots back in second at 870. Northern Illinois took third at 887, while Butler edged Bradley for fourth by three shots (894). The Braves started the day tied for fifth and hung on to fifth in the final standings at 897 to finish seven shots better than MVC rival and sixth-place finisher Drake (904). Ball State (7^th – 905) and Illinois State (8^th – 906) rounded out the top half of the field.

Bradley returns to action next week at the Payne Stewart Memorial in Springfield, Mo., Sept. 13 & 14.

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