In 2016-17, the Bradley men’s golf team finished seventh in a nine school field in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship. A year later, they became conference champions. Current senior Drake Bushong won Bradley’s first individual championship since 1985 and became the third Brave to claim the award.
It was also Bradley’s first MVC team championship that earned the Braves their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1955. Not much went wrong for Bradley that day.
But that was then, and this is now.
Head coach Jeff Roche, who is entering his 14th year at the helm of men’s team knows it will not be easy to repeat the success they had last year. The team according to him has already faced a significant hurdle.
“We haven’t been able to play much [because of the weather] so we’re going to work our way into it and try to peak at the right time,” Roche said.
The Valley will not give the Braves any favors. Southern Illinois, Drake, Illinois State and Missouri State rounded out the top five teams at the conference tournament last year. All are returning this year, to challenge the Braves for their crown.
For the first time in the teams existence, the Braves will be the hunted, not the hunters.
As conference champions, Bradley finished 12th of 13 schools at the NCAA Bryan Regional in Texas and therefore did not earn spot to the National Championship.
“To make it past regionals we will have to be playing our best golf from top to bottom,” Bushong said. “No matter what Regional you are in all the teams there have a chance to make it to the Nationals which makes it very competitive.”
Michael Mounce, another Bradley senior, is prepared for a career year. He tied for second individually with teammate Ethan Bruce in at last years MVC championship, behind Bushong.
Of Bradley’s eight golfers, four are seniors. They are Mounce, his twin brother Branden, Bushong and Daniel Lensing.
“I would like to be known as the group of seniors who worked hard and fully supported and pushed everyone to get better on and off the golf course,” Mounce said. “I believe that the team will be in [a] great place next year after our class leaves and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish.”
The team opens its spring season Monday and Tuesday in Spring, Texas at the Colin Montgomerie Invitational. After that, the team will have four other matches leading up to the MVC Championship, hosted April 22-23 by Missouri State.
