Huskers on the Rise after Strong 2006

Lincoln - After producing five top-10 tournament finishes in the spring and the school's first trip to an NCAA Regional for the first time in six years, the Nebraska men's golf team hopes to continue building momentum in the coming seasons.

 

The <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska men’s golf team began the 2005-06 season with command as they captured the title of their own Fairway Club Invitational at the Firethorn Golf Club. The Huskers went on to capture three more top-10 finishes in Head Coach Bill Spangler’s fifth year, closing the fall with a third-place finish at the Southern Miss/Sam Hall Intercollegiate. <?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

The squad continued to show improvement throughout the spring and closed the 2006 season strong as they earned a spot at the NCAA Midwest Regional for the first time in six years. The Huskers posted five top-10 spots in the spring, including their second tournament victory of the season at the Branson Creek Invitational.

 

Junior Brady Schnell Posts Team-Low Season Stroke Average

Junior Brady Schnell finished the season with the Huskers’ lowest stroke average of 72.67 through 39 rounds, bringing down his career stroke average to 73.90. Schnell’s highlights included a second-place finish at the Fairway Club Invitational in the fall and another second-place finish at the Ron Moore Invitational in the spring.

 

At the Ron Moore Invitational, Schnell led the Husker squad by firing a school and career-record 64 on the opening 18 holes. Schnell finished with a final score of 203 (64-70-69), beating his previous career-low round by five strokes, when he finished with a 208 (73-65-70) at the Pioneer Golf Classic in 2005.

 

Schnell’s low individual round beat his own previous record of 65 when he shot seven-under par at the 2005 Pioneer Golf Classic. Two additional former Huskers boast rounds of 65, including Jamie Rogers at the 1998 NCAA Central Regional as well as the 1998 Ram Collegiate and Knox Jones.

 

Junior Drew Reynolds was next for the Huskers as he finished with a 73.33 stroke average through 39 rounds, bringing down his career stroke average to 74.89. Reynolds posted three top-20 finishes and finished in the top-25 in five of six tournaments, improving consistently throughout the fall.

 

Reynolds used the momentum from the fall season to push him to two third-place finishes within the first three tournaments of the spring as he finished with a 211 (73-69-69) at the UTSA Intercollegiate and a season-low 204 (70-68-66) at the Ron Moore Invitational. Reynolds’ last round of 66 at the Ron Moore Invitational was also a new career low.

 

Senior Judd Cornell capped his Nebraska career with a strong season and a 73.46 stroke average through 39 rounds, bringing his final career stroke average down to 74.95. Cornell’s fall performance reinforced his reliable game for the Huskers three top-25 finishes, including a third-place finish at the Fairway Club Invitational.

 

Cornell shot his season-low round of 68 at both the Xavier Invitational in the fall and the Wyoming Cowboy Classic in the spring. Cornell’s spring season included five top-25 finishes, including a fourth-place finish at the Branson Creek Invitational.

 

Junior Ryan Lenahan broke out of the mold to fill the next spot for the Huskers, finishing the season with a 75.03 stroke average through 30 rounds and bringing down his career stroke average to a 76.12.

 

After securing four rounds of golf at or under par in the entire 2004-05 season, junior Ryan Lenahan matched that total in the 2005 fall season alone. Lenahan opened the season strong as he earned a sixth-place tie at the Fairway Club Invitational (playing as an individual). His final round of 69 at the Fairway Club also matched his career low.

 

Lenahan’s best score of the season came in the fall’s final tournament, where he shot an even-par 216 (71-71-74) at the Southern Miss/Sam Hall Intercollegiate, placing second in the Husker lineup for the second time in the fall in addition to the Memphis Intercollegiate Golf Classic.

 

Lenahan’s fall included one spot in the top 10, one in the top 25 and five of six tournaments in the top 50. Lenahan finished the spring by earning a spot to the NCAA Regional in a team qualifying round.

 

Newcomer and junior Ty Capps adjusted to golf on the Division I level after transferring from SouthMountainCommunity College. Capps finished the season in the fifth spot for the Huskers with a 75.11 stroke average through 27 rounds, improving more than two strokes on his 77.22 fall stroke average.

 

Capps participated in three tournaments in the fall and improved 29 strokes on his final score between his first and last tournament. Capps’ best fall performance was a 218 (69-71-78) at the Sam Hall Invitational, as he produced his then-season and career-low round of 69 and finished in a tie for 31st.

 

Capps continued to impact the Husker scoring lineup in the spring as he earned three top-25 place finishes, highlighted by the team’s lone tournament victory throughout the season at the Branson Creek Invitational. Capps finished with a 215 (74-68-73) and carried the momentum to the Wyoming Cowboy Classic a week later, where he earned his season-low score of 211 (72-67-72) and earned a tie for 11th.

 

Capps also shot his current season and career-low score of 67 twice in the spring at both the Ron Moore Invitational and the Wyoming Cowboy Classic.

 

Freshman Trent Price established his college golf game in his first season, earning a 76.33 stroke average through 18 rounds. Price earned two top-20 finishes throughout the season, including a career-low round of 70 at the Ron Moore Invitational, where he also shot his low final score of 216 (69-77-70) and earned a tie for 34th.

 

Price closed his season by earning a spot in the lineup at the Big 12 Championships, where he finished with in 59th with a 239 (77-78-84).

 

Sophomore Mark Pillen continued to make consisted improvements in his second season at Nebraska as he earned a 79.17 stroke average through 12 rounds. Pillen provided depth in the Husker lineup in the fall, posting a career-best tie for 39 at the Fairway Club Invitational, where his score of 232 (78-78-76) was also his best performance of the season.

 

The Huskers have a reason to be excited for the 2006-07 season, as they will return six members of their spring roster, including Ty Capps, Ryan Lenahan, Mark Pillen, Trent Price, Drew Reynolds and Brady Schnell, as well as two redshirt-sophomores from the 2005-06 season in Tyler Bishop and Chris Bruening. Senior Judd Cornell is the lone departing member.

 

Nebraska Places 22nd at NCAA Midwest Regional                                             

Chardon, Ohio - The Nebraska men's golf team shot their best round on the third and final day of the NCAA Midwest Regional, shooting a 299 to finish with a 923 (306-318-299) and move up one spot to finish in 22nd at the NCAA Central Regional at the challenging Sand Ridge Golf Club Chardon, Ohio.

 

Junior Drew Reynolds led the Husker squad with a total of 225 (75-80-70), finishing strong on the final round with a one-under par 70 and leaving him in a tie for 60th.

Senior Judd Cornell shot a 74 in the final round to finish with a total of 230 (77-79-74) and a tie for 95th. Junior Brady Schnell finished with a total score of 234 (78-80-76) and a tie for 114th, as he was the third Husker to finish the tournament with his strongest round.

Junior Ryan Lenahan was just behind Schnell with a 235 (76-80-79), leaving him in a tie for 120th and rounding out the Huskers' scoring lineup. Junior Ty Capps shot a 241 (83-79-79) and finished in 131st to round out the Husker squad.

The Huskers appearance at the NCAA Central Regional was its first berth since 1999, as they claimed the No. 21 seed.

 

The Central Regional posed a challenging lineup with defending Big 12 champions and No. 13 seed Oklahoma, AtlanticCoast champions and No. 2 seed Georgia Tech, Big Ten champions and No. 9 seed Northwestern, Southland champions and No. 11 seed Lamar, and Mid-American Conference champions and No. 12 seed KentState, among others.

Oklahoma State won the tournament with a seven-under par final score of 845 (280-285-280), while Northwestern filled the second spot with a final score of 861 (281-293-287). TexasA&MUniversity (284-291-292) and Georgia Tech (295-288-284) tied for third with a final score of 867, while Lamar shot an 869 (286-295-288) to round out the top five in the NCAA Central Regional.

Oklahoma State went on to capture the national title on June 3, 2006 at the Sunriver Resort-Crosswater Club in Sunriver, Ore.

Huskers Finish Sixth at Big 12 Championships

Tulsa, Okla. ? The Nebraska men’s golf team posted two top-20 individual finishes and three top-25 finishes en route to a sixth-place finish at the 10th Annual Big 12 Championships at the Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla.

 

The Huskers finished with a total team score of 887 (291-296-300) to match their second best finish since joining the Big 12 League in 1997, while also helping Head Coach Bill Spangler’s best finish in his six-year tenure at Nebraska.

 

Junior Brady Schnell led the team and the tournament through the first round with a score of 68, and finished with a final score of 220 (68-77-75) to snag a tie for 19th. Schnell also posted 11 birdies, second in the tournament, and placed in the top-10 in par-four scoring at just four-over par.

 

Senior Judd Cornell matched Schnell’s score of 220 (72-69-79) to tie for the top spot in the Husker lineup and a tie for 19th overall, while also shooting 35 pars and placing in the top-10 in the tournament in par-four scoring at just four-over par for the tournament.

 

Oklahoma won its first Big 12 Championship with a final score of 858 (285-289-284). 

 

Huskers Win Branson Creek Invitational

Hollister, Mo. ? Junior Ty Capps snagged his first collegiate victory in a tournament to lead Nebraska to its second tournament win of the year and their fourth top-five finish in as many tournaments this spring as the Huskers finished with a final team score of 874 (304-282-288) at the par-71, 6,958 yd. Branson Creek Golf Course in Hollister, Mo.

 

The Huskers were 16 strokes out of first place behind tournament host Missouri St. after the first round of the tournament before posting a total of four individual rounds under par in the final two rounds to win the tournament by three strokes.

 

Nebraska also finished with three top-five spots and four top-20 spots individually in the tournament. The team continued to improve throughout the spring, posting finishes in fourth, third, second and first as the season continues.

 

This was the second year in a row that the Huskers snagged the Branson Creek Invitational title, as they returned three members of last year’s squad in juniors Brady Schnell and Drew Reynolds as well as senior Judd Cornell.

 

Capps finished the tournament with a final score of 215 (74-68-73) to lead the team, marking his lowest final score at Nebraska. His second-round score of 68 was just one stroke away from his career and season-low round of 67 at the Ron Moore Invitational on March 20-21.

 

Junior Brady Schnell was second for the Huskers and snagged a tie for second in the tournament, finishing with a final score of 217 (75-70-72). Senior Judd Cornell was just behind Schnell with a score of 219 (70-70-70) as he was the only Husker to post two rounds below par.

 

Freshman Trent Price came in fourth for the Huskers and tied for 17th in the tournament with a final score of 225 (77-74-74). The tie for 17th marks his second top-20 spot in only his fourth collegiate tournament as he continues to refine his game in his first year.

 

Junior Drew Reynolds wrapped up the Husker team lineup with a final score of 228  (78-77-73) and a tie for 28th.

 

Sophomore Mark Pillen additionally competed as an individual and finished with a final score of 237 (80-80-77) to place him in a tie for 50th.

 

Tournament host Missouri St. finished with a team score of 877 (288-296-293) to finish in second for the tournament, while Arkansas St finished with 897 (206-294-297) to take the third spot. Southern Illinois finished with a score of 899 (308-291-300) while Oral Roberts finished with 901 (305-295-301) to round out the top five teams.

 

Missouri St.’s squad combined with the Huskers to include all of the top five individuals. Todd Laney finished with 217 (70-73-74) to tie for second in the tournament, while Matt Sullivan (73-75-72) and Nick Pyatt (76-73-71) finished with 220 to tie for fifth.

 

Total of Seven Huskers Named to Honor Roll in 2005-06 Academic Year

Two members of the golf team were among 230 Nebraska student-athletes named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall Honor Roll after earning a grade-point average of 3.0 or better, while seven members of the golf team were among the 249 student-athletes who earned a 3.0 or better during the spring term.

 

Juniors Brady Schnell and Drew Reynolds made repeat appearances on the list in both the fall and the spring. Schnell, a marketing major from Omaha, Neb., made his second and third appearance on the list. It was the fourth and fifth appearance for Reynolds, a communications major from Lee’s Summit, Mo.

 

Ty Capps, a junior transfer from SouthMountainCommunity College, made his first collegiate appearance on the list in the spring. Capps is a political science major from Highland Ranch, Colo.

 

Junior Ryan Lenahan, a sociology major from Gross Pointe Shores, Mich., sophomore Mark Pillen, a finance major from Columbus, Neb., and freshman Trent Price, a business major from Lincoln, Neb., all earned their first honors.

 

Huskers Earn Sixth-Place Spot in District Rankings

Lincoln- The Nebraska men’s golf team emerged in the sixth spot in the Central District ranking, released the week of January 16, marking their highest place in head coach Bill Spangler’s five-year tenure.

 

With 22 teams in the district, the Huskers placed themselves in good position to be one of seven who will advance to the NCAA Regional at the conclusion of the 2006 spring season, as they went on to advance to the Midwest Regional in the sixth spot in May.

 

“This is a great time for Nebraska men’s golf to be proud of the steps we have taken to establish our program as a competitive team on the national level,” Spangler said. “I’m excited about the opportunities we have this season and look forward to our first tournament.

 

Huskers Move into National Rankings

Lincoln-The Nebraska’s men’s golf team earned its first national ranking since 1999 in late September, as the Huskers were ranked No. 43 in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings released Tuesday, September 27.

 

Nebraska’s team ranking through two tournaments was 71.98. The rating is a combination of a player’s record, stroke differential and schedule strength. The team had three wins against teams ranked in the top 50 and five wins against teams in the top 100. Overall, the team had 17 wins and nine losses.

 

Nebraska finished the season ranked 84th among 278 Division I teams with a 200-85 division record. Standing is determined by round robin, with the division record compiled from Head-to-Head comparison of all teams.

 

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.

 

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 the tournament’s final 18 holes with a comfortable 16-shot lead in the tournament.

 

Junior Brady Schnell lit up the course on the third day, leading the Huskers with a 66, the second lowest score of the tournament. Schnell ultimately finished in second place, one of three Huskers to finish in the top 10. Nebraska finished with a total of six in the top 20.