Huskers Slip to 12th at Big 12 Championships

The Nebraska men’s golf team struggled to a final-round 316 on Sunday at the Big 12 Men’s Golf Championships at Whispering Pines Golf Club. The 316 score in the third round left <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska in 12th place with a 931 total, two shots behind Colorado who finished 11th.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

The Huskers entered Sunday’s action in ninth place after opening the tournament with rounds of 303 and 312, however, Nebraska was forced to count a pair of scores in the 80s on Sunday, leading to the three-spot slide. Oklahoma State captured the Big 12 crown, finishing 54 holes of play with an 868 total, nine shots better than runner-up Oklahoma. Missouri (885), Texas (903) and Texas A&M (909) rounded out the top five finishers.

 

Nebraska was led on Sunday by junior Judd Cornell who carded a two-over par 74 on Sunday. Cornell shot a 38 on the back nine, his opening nine, then posted an even-par 36 on Whispering Pines’ front side. Cornell’s 74 on Sunday left him with a three-round total of 229, placing Cornell in a tie for 25th place.

 

Cornell’s strong Sunday round left him just behind fellow Millard West graduate Brady Schnell. The sophomore posted a 76 on Sunday and finished three rounds of play with a 225 total, good for a tie for 18th place. Schnell opened the Big 12 Championships with rounds of 73 and 78 on the par-72, 7,330-yard Whispering Pines layout.

 

The remainder of Nebraska’s five-man lineup struggled on Sunday. Sophomore Drew Reynolds put together a solid 76 on Saturday, but struggled to an 85 on Sunday. His 238 total left Reynolds in a tie for 49th place. Junior Kent Schreiner also finished the 54-hole tournament with a 238 total following an 81 in Sunday’s final round. The Husker lineup was rounded out by freshman Mark Pillen who struggled to a 94 on Sunday and finished 60th with a 250 total.

 

Oklahoma’s Anthony Kim captured the individual crown with an eight-under par 208 total, defeating second-place Alex Noren of Oklahoma State, by six shots. OSU’s Zack Robinson finished in third place at 215, following a 68 on Sunday, tying Kim for the low round of the day.

 

The 12th-place finish likely ended Nebraska’s chances of qualifying for NCAA regional competition, although official word will come later this week.

 

Team Scoring

1. Oklahoma State             285-296-287?868
2. Oklahoma                     290-298-289?877
3. Missouri                        295-297-293?885
4. Texas                           311-305-287?903
5. Texas A&M                   303-299-307?909
6. Kansas                         304-303-303?910
7. Baylor                           303-308-301?912
8. Texas Tech                   299-310-309?918
9. Iowa State                     302-318-301?921
10. Kansas State                308-306-311?925
11. Colorado                       311-319-299?929
12. Nebraska                      303-312-316?931

 

Individual Leaders

1. Anthony Kim, Oklahoma         69-71-68?208

2. Alex Noren, Oklahoma State   70-72-72?214

3. Zack Robinson, Okla. State    74-73-68?215

4. Matt VanCleave, Kansas St.   70-71-76?217

5. Ben Scott, Missouri                71-73-74?218

Justin Fraley, Oklahoma             68-72-78?218

 

Nebraska Golfers

T18. Brady Schnell                     73-78-76?227

T25. Judd Cornell                       76-79-74?229

T49. Drew Reynolds                   77-76-85?238

T49. Kent Schreiner                   77-80-81?238

60. Mark Pillen                          77-79-94?250