For the first time since 1998, Bradley’s men’s golf team traveled to Nebraska, where they shot their lowest 54-hole score since last April and placed sixth out of nine teams at the Stampede at the Creek on April 11-12.
The Braves had a rough start on Monday with a first-round 303 but managed to bounce back with the best team round in three years, carding a 287 in the second round and 297 in the final round.
“As a team from top to bottom, we played consistent, solid golf,” head coach Jeff Roche said. “We were able to put some things together that we’ve been working on through the spring. We still have some things to work on, but it was good.”
Junior Roy Radke led the Braves with the low round of his career in Monday’s second round, a two-under-par 70. Radke picked up his second top-20 finish of the year, earning 13th place in the individual standings.
“I was pretty happy with my performance; I’ve been struggling a lot this season, so it’s nice to be able to play with some confidence and shoot some scores that I’m more accustomed to,” Radke said. “But that being said, I still feel like I left a lot of shots out there [and] had some putts that I thought should have gone in and stuff, but it is really positive going into conference next weekend.”
Graduate Aaeri Krishnan tied with Radke in 13th place at 220, firing a final round of 74. He claimed his third top-20 finish of the year and Roche is happy with Krishnan’s progress while hoping that he continues playing the same way.
“Over the last couple of tournaments … he’s really been just steady,” Roche said. “He is starting to manage himself better … [I’m] watching him finally get back into some of his good form. I think there is still more in there for him, and he just keeps getting better and better.”
Junior Josh Kirkham, only one shot away from his teammates, tied for 18th place at 221 after a final round of 75. Kirkham grabbed his seventh top-20 finish of the year while classmate John Stillman placed 35th with a 228, climbing five spots during the final day.
Nick Armbrust finished at 230 with a final round of 76, he moved up seven spots into a tie for 41st while Brady Kreiter rounded out the scoring for Bradley in 53rd at 239, firing a final round 82.
North Dakota State conquered the team title, finishing at 19-under-par 845, with St. Thomas in second at 876. The tournament host Omaha claimed third place at 877, while Bradley (887) was nine shots away from fourth place Northern Iowa (878).
Roche recognized North Dakota State played very well compared to the rest of the teams and thinks his golfers can learn from them.
“They are a really solid team,” Roche said. “They do a good job at managing themselves to shoot, to play that much better than even the second team. They’ve had good teams for a number of years. We need to believe in ourselves that we are capable of doing that.”
After posting their lowest 54-hole score of 887 since the Flyer Intercollegiate in April of 2021, Bradley will return to action at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship, as they travel to Paducah, Kentucky on April 24-26.
Roche shared his thoughts about his team before the postseason.
“I’m proud of what they are doing and their effort, but then also how they are going about preparing themselves for each and every game, let alone the tournament itself,” Roche said.
