Photo via Bradleybraves.com
The Bradley mens golf team continued its solid start to the season, shooting a team score of 889 and placing fifth overall at the Bill Ross Intercollegiate in Overland Park, Kansas. The finish gave the Braves their third top-five finish this season.
Bradley was paced by senior Matthew Specht who fired a three-round score of 220, good enough to earn him a tie for eighth.
I set a game plan and was able to execute it, Specht said. It was a new course, at least in my
four years, we havent played it. I was able to hit some good shots and make some putts.
The team has been fortunate, as they have experienced nice weather so far this season. However,conditions at the par-72 Milburn Golf & Country Club were less than ideal. Specht said he was able to lean on experience to shoot a final round 75 to earn his sixth career top-10 finish.
Monday it was really nice. There was hardly any wind and it was pretty typical for a nice Fall
Day, Specht said. Tuesday though, there was 15 to 20 mile-per-hour winds, and it was the coldest we played in all year.
According to head coach Jeff Roche, Specht tries to keep the team morale high with his positiveattitude.
Matt has played well not only this week but throughout his whole career here, Roche said. Aside from his play his attitude is also very beneficial for the team. Hes kind of our light hearted guy and keeps us all in a positive attitude, Roche said.
The personality that his coach describes helped the senior succeed in the adverse weather, according to Specht.
I tried to just embrace it and keep trying to get the ball in the hole, Specht said. I told myteammates to just go out there, and have some fun.
Along with Specht, fellow senior Zach Jewell and junior Branden Mounce both tied for 24thoverall at 225 to help lead the Braves. Ethan Brue finished one shot back of Jewell and Mouncein a tie for 35th overall.
Roche said he was happy with the way his team focused, but need to improve in other areas ofits game.
I think we couldve done a little more, but all in all I think we handled things pretty well,
Roche said. We still have some things to work on from a physical standpoint and just actuallyscoring better than what we have, but mentally, I thought we were very strong.
Bradley will close out its 2017 Fall schedule Oct. 23 & 24 as they tee it up for the final time at the Little Rock Invitational in Little Rock, Arkansas.
