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Lemek wins MVC golf title, player of the year

At the end of the Missouri Valley Championship tournament, a Brave stood atop the rest.

Sophomore Danielle Lemek won the 2014 MVC Golf Championship and earned MVC Player of the Year in April 22, after breaking several MVC records.

“It’s such an honor to win both the tournament and the conference player of the year in a three-day span,” Lemek said. “Seeing coach and [my] dad, that’s when I knew that I won.”

Lemek broke the 54-hole total record, shooting a 212. Tulsa’s Sofie Eriksson set the previous record of 215 in 1995, which was matched in 2005 by then Bradley junior Meaghan LeBlanc.

Lemek also broke the season stroke average with a score of 73.61 per round.  She broke Illinois State’s Samantha Richdale’s record of 73.94, which was set during the 2005-06 season.

“It was one of her best college tournaments,” Coach Mary Swanson said. “In terms of consistency, she played her best golf of the season against the toughest competition.”

Lemek also tied her school-record low 54-hole total with her 212 tournament score.  She claimed her third win of the year by seven strokes and tied last season’s total wins of three. Lemek now has a school-record six career wins and is the first Brave to win the Valley’s individual title since Bari Erais in 2007.

“It’s hard to grasp that these records may never be broken again,” Lemek said.  “Hard work and dedication pay off.”

Lemek eagled for the first time in her collegiate career in the second round. She was on hole 17 from 130 yards out and watched the ball drop through the windy and rainy weather.  She then hit the pin on 18 through the elements.

Bradley led the tournament by two strokes heading into the final day but finished fifth after the final round at the par-72 Panther Creek Country Club.

Sophomore Jenna Roadley earned her second top-20 finish of the season with a three-round score of 228, 12-over par.

Sophomore Allison Walsh finished in a tie for 23 with a 231, 15-over par. Freshman Paige Jordan finished tied for 35 with a 238, 22-over par. Junior Kat Mangieri finished in 49 with a 251, 35-over par.

Bradley (909) finished nine shots behind champion Wichita State (900), whom they led by two strokes entering the final round. Indiana State (901) claimed second place finishing one shot behind the Shockers. Illinois State (906) finished third, and Southern Illinois (908) took fourth place.

Coach Swanson said the team was invested in their goals and core values, which allowed the team to be successful at the MVC Tournament.

“We are another step further with our program,” Swanson said.

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