Golf Team Hosts 37th Annual Pat Bradley Invitational

By: Raymond Sixto/Contributing Writer

On Sunday, the Panthers will host the 37th Annual Pat Bradley Invitational at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club in Sarasota, Fla. They will be part of a field of fourteen schools. Here’s a small preview of each team in the tournament:

Bethune-Cookman College: The Wildcats have already participated in three tournaments this season. Their best finish came when they won third place at the Wendy’s Invitational. Senior Jennifer Hide, who has only appeared in two tournaments this year, leads the team with a 75.40 stroke average. Her best finish came at the Wendy’s Invitational, when she shot 4-over-par for the tournament, 76-72-72 (220) and tied for fourth place in the tournament.

Bradley University: The Braves have played in four tournaments this season. Their best finishes were seventh place finishes at the Cardinal Cup and the Redbird Invitational. Junior Danielle Lemek, who leads the team, has a team best 73.00 stroke average and two top-five finishes, including an individual victory at the Cardinal Cup when she shot 75-69-69 (213) 3-under-par.

University of Cincinnati: The Bearcats have played in five tournaments this year and only had two top-five finishes, one of which was a split-victory when they tied for first place at the TPC River’s Bend Bearcat Cup. Sophomore Ashley Cassidy, whose best tournament came when she tied for twelfth by shooting 76-76 (152) at the TPC River’s Bend Bearcat Cup, leads the with a high stroke average of 77.75.

Daytona State College: The Falcons have been in three tournaments this year, their best finish second place at the LPGA Xavier Invitational. Sophomore Tiffany Chan leads the team, though only appeared in two tournaments this year, shooting under 70 in half her rounds. Her best finish was a victory at the LPGA Xavier Invitational after shooting 67-66-72 (205), an amazing eleven-under-par. In her two appearances, she has a 69.83 stroke average, the best on the team.

University of Delaware: The Lady Blue Hens have played in four tournaments this year, their best finish a tie for first place in the Tignanelli Towson Invitational. Junior Vimonthip Benjasupawan leads the team with a 77.91 stroke average. Her best tournament came at the University of Delaware Lady Blue Hen Invitational by finishing tied for seventh after shooting 75-78-79 (232).

Drake University:  The Bulldogs have played in three tournaments this season.  They have one top five finish coming at the Jackrabbit Fall Invite when they came in third.  Freshman Madison Glennie has a top ten finish this year coming at the same tournament when she shot 77-76-80 (233) and came in ninth place.  She also has a team high 76.78 stroke average.

Florida Atlantic University:  The Owls have played in three tournaments this year.  They only have one top five finish at the Lady Falcon Invitational.  They are led by sophomore Heather Netti who has a team best stroke average of 78.75 and has one top fifteen finish this season.

Florida Gulf Coast University:  The Eagles have played in three tournaments this year.  They haven’t had a top five finish this season yet.  Their best performance was at the Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational as they finished in eighth place.  Junior Mei Khuan Yong leads the Falcons with a 76.44 stroke average.  She has not had a top twenty finish yet this season and looks to get her first this weekend in Sarasota.

Florida International University:  The Panthers have been in three tournaments this season.  They finished in the top five in every tournament they’ve been in.  The team is led by junior Meghan MacLaren who began the season by winning the Mary Fossum Invitational.  She has finished in the top ten of every tournament this year.  She also has a team best stoke average of 72.44.  Although she had her best finish at the Mary Fossum Invitational, it was not her best performance.  Her best performance came at the Johnie Imes Invitational when she shot 69-73-70 (212) and tied for fourth place.

Jacksonville University:  The Dolphins have been in three tournaments this year.  They came in third at the UNCG Forest Oaks Fall Classic.  The team is led by senior Jessica Welch who has a team best stroke average of 74.0 and had her best finish was at the UNCG Forest Oaks Fall Classic when she finished tied for second place.

University of Memphis: The Tigers have played in four tournaments this year.  Just like FIU, Memphis has also finished in the top five in each of their tournaments this year.  They are led by freshman Michaela Fletcher who has a team best 72.68 stroke average.  Her best finish came in the Cardinal Cup when she finished tied for second.

University of North Texas:  The Mean Green have played in two tournaments this year.  They haven’t finished in the top five in either tournament.  The team is led by senior Maraea Durie who has a team best stroke average of 74.83 and had her best finish was at the New Mexico State Aggie Invitational when she finished tied for fifteenth.

Texas A&M University Corpus Christi:  The Isladers have been in three tournaments this year.  They came in fourth at the SHSU Harold Funston Invitational.  The team is led by sophomore Ana Paredes who has a team best stroke average of 76.56 and had her best finish was at the SHSU Harold Funston Invitational when she finished in fifth place.

Western Illinois University:  The Fighting Leatherheads have been in four tournaments this year.  Their lone victory of the season came at the Western Illinois Invitational.  The team is led by senior Jessica Knepp who has a team best stroke average of 78.80 and had her best finish was at the Western Illinois Invitational when she won the tournament.