Huskers Jump Nine Spots for Second-Place Finish at ASU Indian Classic

The Nebraska men’s golf team posted the day’s top round on Tuesday at the ASU Indian Classic in <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Jonesboro, Ark., and in the process moved up nine spots to finish in a tie for second in the 18-team field.

<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Nebraska’s 288 team score on Tuesday was five shots better than tournament winner IowaState who fired the day’s second-best score with a 293. The Huskers’ finished the two-round tournament with a 587 team total, tied for second with Arkansas-Little Rock, seven shots behind the Cyclones. Southern Mississippi, SouthwestMissouriState and North Texas tied for fourth, another shot back at 288.

 

The tournament was originally scheduled for 54 holes, but was shortened after rainy conditions allowed only one round to be played on Monday at Ridge Point Country Club. The Huskers struggled to a 299 in Monday afternoon’s first round and stood in a tied for 11th place, before rallying in today’s round.

 

Individually, Nebraska’s top finisher was freshman Tom Bethel, who fired a 73 on Tuesday and completed two rounds on the 6,535-yard, par-72 layout at even-par 144. Bethel’s total placed in a three-way tie for fourth place, four shots behind individual champion Jeremy Lyons of IowaState.

 

Senior J.J. Sullivan posted a 71 on Tuesday and finished the tournament with a 147 total to tie for 17th place. Fellow senior Chris Hartwig also finished tied for 17th at 147 after a 73 in the second round. Redshirt freshman Drew Reynolds matched Sullivan’s 71 on Tuesday to finish 36 holes with a 149 total, good for a tie for 30th place. Sophomore Judd Cornell rounded out the Husker lineup with a tie for 77th place at 157, including a second-round score of 75.

 

The tie for second place marks the third consecutive tournament in which Nebraska has finished second or better. The Huskers won the Pepsi-Cola Invitational in Texas on March 27-28 and finished second in last week’s Branson Creek Invitational. Nebraska takes next week off before resuming its spring schedule at the Big 12 Championships at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan., on April 26-27.

 

Team Scoring

1. IowaState                            287-293?580

2. Nebraska                            299-288?587

Arkansas-Little Rock                288-299?587

4. Southern Mississippi            287-301?588

SouthwestMissouriState          287-301?588

North Texas                             287-301?588

7. South Florida                        287-303?590

8. Oral Roberts                        288-305?593

9. Lamar                                  300-294?594

10. Louisiana-Lafayette            295-300?595

11. Louisiana-Monroe              298-299?597

12. Middle Tennessee               296-303?599

13. Illinois State                        302-298?600

14. Missouri                             304-297?601

15. Rice                                   307-303?610

16. ArkansasState                   300-313?613

17. Louisiana Tech                   299-621?620

18. Northern Iowa                    311-315?626

 

Individual Leaders

1. Jeremy Lyons, Iowa State                 70-70?140*

2. Austin Hackett, SWMissouriSt.      68-72?140

3. Chris Stroud, Lamar                        72-70?142

4. Tom Bethel, Nebraska                      71-73?144

Ben Snow, Southern Mississippi           72-72?144

Reid McPherson, North Texas               69-75?144

 

Other Nebraska Golfers

T17. Chris Hartwig                               74-73?147

T17. J.J. Sullivan                                  76-71?147

T30. Drew Reynolds                            78-71?149

T77. Judd Cornell                                 82-75?157