Three Huskers Qualify for U.S. Amateur

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>

Lincoln, Neb. ? Former Husker Judd Cornell just graduated in May, but will get one more chance to hit the links with two of his teammates from the 2005-06 season as he and seniors Brady Schnell and Ty Capps all qualified for the United States Amateur Championship on Aug. 21-27.

<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Cornell and Schnell claimed Nebraska's two spots, while Capps will represent his home state of Colorado. The three will all represent the Husker golf team at the 106th U.S. Amateur Championship to be played at the Hazeltine Country Club in Chaska, Minn.

 

“I think it’s really great for all of them to make it,” Head Coach Bill Spangler said. “As teammates, it’s a great opportunity for them to represent the University of Nebraska at the amateur. (Former Husker) Judd (Cornell) making the cut is a testament to his hard work over the past few years.”

 

Cornell won the qualifying tournament on Monday at the Ironwood Country Club in Omaha with a 2-under-par 142, just one stroke better than Schnell.

 

Schnell and Cornell were teammates for three years at Omaha’s MillardWestHigh School in addition to the three years at Nebraska.

 

Capps was second in his qualifying field with a 137 at the Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora, Colo.

 

Capps was a newcomer to the squad in the 2005-06 season 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.

 

Just last month, Schnell won the prestigious North and South Amateur Championship in Pinehurst, N.C. Schnell will also compete in three more tournaments before the U.S. Amateur, including the Nebraska Amateur at the Indian Creek Golf Course in Elkhorn, Neb. July 25-28.

 

Schnell led Nebraska in the 2005-06 season, finishing 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.

 

“I was pretty fortunate to make the cut yesterday,” Schnell said. “I didn’t play the greatest and I just got away with it. I’ve been playing a lot of golf this summer and I’m pretty tired, but it’s a good opportunity to continue to prepare for the fall season.”