KIRKWOOD, Missouri -- Bradley's Taylor Ledwein, a fifth-year senior, posted the lowest score of her college career, a 4-under-par 67, in the opening round of the Diane Daugherty Invitational last week at Greenbriar Hills Country Club, and she went on from there to claim medalist honors.
A former two-time Minnesota state high school champion from New Prague, Ledwein birdied the first hole on Day 1, bogeyed the second, and then made eight pars in a row. But the MGA 2020 Women's Co-Player of the Year (along with Kate Smith) rattled off three birdies in a row at the 418-yard, par-4 11th hole, the 310-yard, par-4 12th and 316-yard, par-4 13th. Although she failed to birdie the par-5 14th (496 yards), she made her fourth birdie in five holes at the 15th (328 yards, par 4).
She followed the 67 with a 78 and a 76, for a 54-hole total of 221, which was just good enough. It gave her a one-stroke victory over a pair of South Dakota teammates, Danica Badura and Akari Hayashi. Badura closed with a 70, the best score of the final round by three shots.
Arkansas State won the team competition with a cumulative 914, two better than the 916 that South Dakota put together. Illinois State finished third in the 16-team field with a 923, and Bradley was another shot back in fourth at 924.
This was the second college victory for Ledwein. The first came two years ago at the Babs Steffens Hatter Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla.
As a result of her victory, Ledwein was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week. It's the eighth time she has earned that honor, which ties her with Danielle Lemek for the most MVC Player of the Week awards in the history of the Bradley golf program.
WOMEN'S COLLEGE GOLF
Diane Daugherty Invitational
At Greenbriar Hills Country Club
Par 71, 6,042 yards
Kirkwood, Missouri
March 29-30
Final results
1. Arkansas State 301-304-309--914
2. South Dakota 309-310-297--916
3. Illinois State 305-309-309--923
4. Bradley 309-308-307--924
5. Missouri State 311-311-315-- 937
6. Lipscomb 322-305-317--944
7. Southern Illinois 312-320-313--945
8. Loyola 320-306-320--946
9. Creighton 315-322-312--949
10. Drake 313-317-321--951
11. Linderwood University 327-314-324--965
12. Northern Iowa 327-318-321--966
13. Indiana State 320-325-327-972
14. Omaha 316-335-329--980
15. Central Michigan 326-332-324--982
16. Valparaiso 337-343-330--1010
Individual results
1. Taylor Ledwein, Bradley 67-78-76--221
T2. Danica Badura, So. Daklota 75-77-70--222
T2. Akari Hayashi, So. Dakota 77-70-75--222
4. Elise Schultz, Arkansas State 74-74-75--223
T23. Claire Orcutt, Creighton 75-80-80--235
26. Gabby Trembley, Creighton 82-79-75--236
T27. Megan Welch, Bradley 82-80-75--237
T44. Julia Hall, South Dakota 78-83-80--241
T70. Molly Fossen, So. Dakota 86-85-79--250
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