The <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska men’s golf team put together two solid rounds Monday on the opening day of the Branson Creek Invitational in Hollister, Mo., and sits in second place after 36 holes of the 11-team tournament.
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Nebraska opened the tournament with a morning score of 294, then tied for the second-best team score of the day with a 285 in the afternoon, good for a two-round total of 579. The Huskers sit 11 strokes behind Oklahoma City which posted rounds of 283 and 285 for a 568 total. The Huskers are three strokes in front of third-place IllinoisState (582), while host SouthwestMissouriState (591) and MurrayState (595) round out the top five in the field.
Individually, Nebraska was led by freshmen Tom Bethel and Drew Reynolds who are tied for sixth place at 144 after 36 holes. Bethel opened with a 75, but rebounded with a two-under 69 in the afternoon. Reynolds shot 73 in his morning round, then responded with a 71 on the 7,015-yard Branson Creek Golf Club layout in the afternoon.
Sophomore Judd Cornell is tied for 10th just a shot behind Bethel and Reynolds at 145, following rounds of 72 and 73. Senior J.J. Sullivan is in a tie for 14th place at 146 after posting rounds of 74 and 72, while Kent Schreiner is tied for 44th at 154 (76-78). Two other Huskers are competing as individuals in the tournament. Freshman Brady Schnell is at 147 after two rounds, good for 19th place, while Chris Hartwig is tied for 20th place at 148.
The final round is set to begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday at Branson Creek Golf Club. The Huskers will be gunning for their second consecutive tournament title after capturing the team crown at the Pepsi-Cola Invitational on March 28.
Team Scoring
1. Oklahoma City 283-285?568
2. Nebraska 294-285?579
3. Illinois State 294-288?582
4. SW Missouri State 303-288?591
5. Murray State 303-292?595
6. Northern Iowa 301-295?596
St. Louis 294-302?596
8. Western Illinois 298-302?600
9. Southern Illinois 313-295?608
10. Bradley 310-307?617
11. Creighton 313-308?621
Individual Leaders
1. Tyrone Van Aswegen, Oklahoma City 68-70?138
2. Ben Hanson, Northern Iowa 70-69?139
3. Brian Anderson, Illinois State 70-71?141
4. Andreas Rydholm, Oklahoma City 70-73?143
Nicolas Allain, Oklahoma City 73-70?143
6. Tom Bethel, Nebraska 75-69?144
Drew Reynolds, Nebraska 73-71?144
Brian Norman, Southern Illinois 72-72?144
Matt Sullivan, Southwest Missouri State 77-67?144
Other Nebraska Golfers
T10. Judd Cornell 72-73?145
T14. J.J. Sullivan 74-72?146
T44. Kent Schreiner 76-78?154
19. Brady Schnell* 72-75?147
T20. Chris Hartwig* 75-73?148
*-Competing as individuals