Schnell Finishes Second; Huskers Fourth at Pioneer Classic

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska sophomore Brady Schnell completed an outstanding tournament with a two-under par 70 on Wednesday, helping Nebraska to a tie for fourth place at the Pioneer Golf Classic in Goodyear, Ariz. Schnell’s final round came on the heels of a school-record tying 65 in round two and allowed the Omaha native to finish three rounds of play at eight-under par 208, good for a tie for second in the 91-player field.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Schnell came into the final day with a 138 total and his 70 left him in a tie for runner-up honors with WichitaState’s Jesse Schulte. The Shockers’ Judd Easterling ran away with the individual crown, posting a 64 on Wednesday to complete three rounds at 21-under par 195, 13 shots in front of Schnell and Schulte.

 

Wichita State easily captured the team crown, posting a remarkable 821 total for three rounds, including a 272 in final round on Wednesday. The Shockers were 37 shots better than Northern Colorado who finished in second place, while Indiana finished third at 859, followed by Nebraska and New MexicoState in a tie for fourth at 863.

 

In addition to Schnell’s final round 70, the Huskers also counted rounds of 73, 74 and 75 on Wednesday. Sophomore Drew Reynolds carded a 75 to finish three rounds at even-par 216, good for a tie for 21st place. Judd Cornell’s 74 on Tuesday left him with a 220 total and a tie for 40th position, while Tyler Bishop posted his second consecutive 73 and finished in a tie for 57th at 223. Kent Schreiner rounded out the NU lineup with a 233 total, including an 81 on Wednesday.

 

This is the first tournament on Nebraska’s Spring Break swing that will also take the Huskers to California for the CU-Stevinson Ranch Invitational on March 21-22.

 

Note: Schnell’s school-record tying 65 on Tuesday marked the fourth time a Husker golfer has carded a round of 65. Jamie Rogers posted a 65 in the 1998 Ram Intercollegiate and had the same score at the 1998 NCAA Central Regional. Knox Jones was the first Husker to post an 65, doing so in the early 1980s.

 

Team Leaders

1. Wichita State             281-268-272?821

2. Northern Colorado      286-288-284?858

3. Indiana                      293-280-286?859

4. Nebraska                  288-283-292?863

New Mexico State          297-280-286?863

 

Individual Leaders

1. Judd Easterling, WichitaState            66-65-64?195 (-21)

2. Brady Schnell, Nebraska                 73-65-70?208 (-8)

Jesse Schulte, WichitaState                  75-66-67?208 (-8)

4. SantiagoQuirarte, Indiana                   71-67-72?210 (-6)

5. James Allenby, UTEP             75-69-67?211 (-5)

Chris Ellis, Northern Colorado                 71-73-67?211 (-5)

Tyler Goulding, Air Force                        71-70-70?211 (-5)

 

Other Nebraska Golfers

T21. Drew Reynolds       70-71-75?216

T40. Judd Cornell           72-74-74?220

T57. Tyler Bishop           77-73-73?223

T80. Kent Schreiner       73-79-81?233