Huskers Capture Fairway Club Title

Lincoln- The Nebraska men’s golf team began its 2005 fall schedule with a bang, snagging a commanding win as it hosted the Fairway Club Invitational at the 6,786-yard, par-71 Firethorn Golf Club.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

The Huskers posted a team score of 289 in Tuesday’s third and final round to finish with an 872 total, giving them a nine-shot advantage over second-place Missouri State University. The Huskers entered today’s final 18 holes with a comfortable 16-shot lead in the tournament.

 

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Missouri State led the tournament on the third day with a 282 team total.

 

Junior Brady Schnell lit up the course on the third day, leading the Huskers with a 66, the second lowest score of the tournament. Todd Laney of Missouri State snagged a 65 in the third round for the lowest score of the tournament.

 

Schnell’s third-round performance earned him a second-place individual finish for the tournament and left him one-under par through 54 holes with 212 (71-75-66). Drake’s Kane Hanson grabbed the first spot in the tournament with a two-under par 211 (70-74-67).

 

Schnell’s low score despite the day’s strong north winds was enough to impress head Coach Bill Spangler.

 

“For him to adjust to the conditions, that’s an excellent round,” Spangler said. “I don’t think anyone would have predicted a 65 or a 66 today. Brady’s 66 is pretty good.”

 

Nebraska’s consistency through the tournament was earmarked with a tournament-leading four players in the top 20, including senior Judd Cornell, who shot a par 213 (71-69-73) to tie with Laney (73-75-65).

 

Freshman Trent Price tied for 16th with a 224 (76-73-75), while junior Drew Reynolds shot a 75 in each of the three rounds for a 225 total and a tie for 19th place.

 

With two freshmen in the lineup for the tournament, Spangler emphasized the depth that the Huskers have gained for this season.

 

“I feel much better about this team,” Spangler said. “This team is deeper, more committed.”

Freshman Joe Kubick rounded out the lineup for the Huskers but didn’t count for the team score, shooting a 228 (74-79-75) to tie for 28th place.

 

Junior Ryan Lenahan, who was competing as an individual, shot a 218 (72-77-69), good enough for a sixth-place tie along with Drake’s Keth Malone. Other individuals included sophomore Mark Pillen, who tied for 29th with a 232 (78-78-76) and junior transfer Ty Capps, who finished at 64th with a 347 (91-79-77).

 

Rounding out the top five in the tournament were Northern Illinois (894), Drake (896) and Illinois State (899).

 

The Huskers are next in action in the Inverness Intercollegiate Invitational at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio on Sept. 19-20.