Huskers to Open Season on Home Turf

Nebraska will open its 2003-04 season on its home course next week, as it plays host to the Fairway Club Invitational at Firethorn Golf Club in Lincoln. The tournament opens with 36 holes of play on Monday, with the third and final round set for Tuesday morning. Monday's play will begin with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. and Tuesday's final round is set for an 8:30 a.m. start.

The field will face a formidable challenge at Firethorn. The 6,762-yard, par-71 layout opened in 1985 and was designed by Pete Dye. Firethorn is consistently ranked among the top courses in the state and Midwest. It has played host to a number of prestigious events, including the 1996 U.S. Women's Amateur.

The Huskers are among 14 teams in the field that includes Big 12 rival Iowa State, Creighton and defending tournament champion Oklahoma City. Nebraska Coach Bill Spangler said the tournament provides the Huskers with an opportunity to get a jump in the district rankings. Spangler expects NU's district rivals Southwest Missouri State, Illinois State and Drake to be among the top contenders.

Huskers Anxious to Open 2003 Campaign
Nebraska Coach Bill Spangler's third Husker team will be an extremely youthful squad. Seven of the nine players on NU's roster are freshmen or sophomores, including a pair of true freshmen.

Fifth-year senior J.J. Sullivan, a graduate of Omaha Gross High School, is the Huskers' most tournament-tested player, having started for three seasons. Sullivan finished last season with a 75.87 stroke average, tops among NU's starting lineup. Lincoln native Chris Hartwig joins Sullivan as Nebraska's only upperclassmen.

Another Omahan, sophomore Judd Cornell, is Nebraska's second returning starter for this season. Cornell competed in 11 of 13 tournaments last season and finished the year with a stroke average just over 77.0.

The entire Husker squad is competing in a qualifying tournament this week at Firethorn to determine the five players who will compete in the Fairway Club Invite. Spangler said he is confident that this week's qualifying will prepare his team for the tournament.

"J.J. Sullivan and Judd Cornell have the most collegiate tournament experience, but we've got several guys who have played excellent golf this summer," Spangler said. "Playing four rounds at Firethorn should identify our top five and give us confidence for next week."

Hartwig and sophomore Ryan Lenahan also have limited tournament experience for the Huskers, while Matt Ellis and Drew Reynolds redshirted last season.

Among Nebraska's newcomers is Brady Schnell, a high school teammate of Cornell's at Millard West. Schnell captured the prestigious Western Junior Championship this summer. Fellow freshman Thomas Bethel is a three-time member of the Bahamian National Team and was the 2002 Bahamian Amateur champ.