Husker Golfers Set to Open Spring Season

The Nebraska men's golf team opens the spring portion of its 2004-05 season next week, taking part in the Rice Intercollegiate in Houston, Texas. The 54-hole tournament begins with 36 holes on Monday at Wildcat Golf Club's Highlands Course and culminates with the third and final round on Tuesday morning.

The 15-team field is headed by host school Rice, and four teams that rank in the top 100 in the most recent GolfWeek team rankings. Memphis is the highest-ranked team in the field, entering the tournament at No. 29, while Texas-Arlington (36), Stephen F. Austin (68) and Texas-San Antonio (98) are also ranked in the nation's top 100. Nebraska enters the spring campaign ranked 119th in the poll and 11th in the Central District.

The Huskers have had limited outdoor practice time during the winter months. However, this week's mild weather came at just the right time, allowing the Huskers outside for practice. Nebraska was able to play a practice round outdoors for the first time on Thursday, and will play again on Friday before departing for Houston on Saturday.

Head Coach Bill Spangler said the Rice Intercollegiate is a good opening test for his team. The tournament does not feature a lot of district teams, but provides an excellent tune-up for the UTSA Intercollegiate later this month, a tournament that will feature a number of teams in the Huskers' district.

Spangler will take six players to Houston for the invitational. Junior Judd Cornell remains a solid No. 1 player for the Huskers after posting a 72.8 stroke average during 18 fall rounds. The rest of the Huskers' team lineup for Rice includes junior Kent Schreiner, sophomores Drew Reynolds and Ryan Lenahan and freshman Chris Bruening. In addition, sophomore Brady Schnell will participate on an individual basis at the Rice Intercollegiate.

Schnell Back in Action
Husker sophomore Brady Schnell spent the majority of the fall near the top of the lineup and finished 15 rounds with a 74.7 stroke average, the second-best on the team. Schnell missed Nebraska's final fall tournament and underwent surgery to repair damage to his left knee.

Spangler expected Schnell to miss the Rice Intercollegiate, however, Schnell's recovery has progressed to the point that he will play as an individual next week. Spangler said this tournament will be used to ensure Schnell is tournament-ready before the UTSA Intcercollegiate on Feb. 28-March 1.

Huskers Set First Two Fall Tournaments
Spangler has finalized the first two tournaments of Nebraska's 2005 fall schedule. The Huskers will continue their recent tradition of opening the season at home with the Fairway Club Invitational on Sept. 12-13. Spangler expects to finalize the field for the tournament at Firethorn Golf Club by later this spring.

A week later, the Huskers will travel to Toledo, Ohio to take part in the Inverness Intercollegiate Invitational at the historic Inverness Club on Sept. 19-20. The Inverness Club is ranked among the Top 100 courses in the United States and has played host to four U.S. Opens, and the 1986 and 1993 PGA Championships. Nebraska will face a top-flight field at the tournament. In addition to Nebraska and the host school Toledo, the field also includes Central Florida, Oklahoma State, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Texas, TCU, Michigan State, USC, Illinois, Kent State, Duke and BYU.

This Week's Tournament
Event
Rice Intercollegiate

Dates
Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 7-8

Course, Location
Wildcat Golf Club
The Highlands Course, Houston

Par, Yardage
Par 72, 6,954 yards

Format
54 holes, 36 holes Monday, 18 Tuesday

Start Time
8 a.m. shotgun both days

Field
Nebraska, Rice, Memphis, DePaul, Louisiana Tech, Army, La.-Lafayette, Texas State,
Sam Houston State, San Diego, Stephen F. Austin, UT-San Antonio, UT-Arlington, UT-Pan American, North Texas