Schnell Captures Nebraska Amateur

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<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Omaha, Neb. ? Senior Brady Schnell added to his impressive summer resume with his second tournament victory as he closed the 97th Nebraska State Amateur at Indian Creek in Elkhorn, Neb. with a final round of 70.

 

Schnell’s final round extended margin of victory to nine strokes, while his 12-under par final score of 276 (67-68-71-70) included four rounds under par, beginning a first-round five-under par 67. Just last month, Schnell won the prestigious North and South Amateur Championship in Pinehurst, N.C.

 

Brandon Crick of McCook, Neb. took the second place spot with a final score of 285 (65-72-73-75).

 

Head coach Bill Spangler, who made the trek to watch Schnell secure his second victory of the summer, was excited at the high level Schnell has competed at throughout the summer.

 

“I’m really proud of (senior) Brady (Schnell), I think it’s great,” Spangler said. “He’s playing with a lot of confidence right now and it has showed not only this week, but this month, with what he’s accomplished. He made a couple minor changes, and the more he’s worked with it, the more confidence he’s played with, and it’s been exciting to see what he’s been able to do this summer.”

 

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.

 

Judd Cornell, a May 2006 graduate of the Husker golf team, moved up three more spots from his Thursday placement to finish in a tie for fourth place, closing the tournament with a one-over par to finish with a three-over par 291 (70-75-73-73) through four rounds.

 

Schnell and Cornell additionally recently claimed the state of Nebraska's two spots for the 106th United States Amateur Championship on Aug. 21-27. Schnell, Cornell and Capps, representing his home state of Colorado, will all represent the Husker golf team at the Hazeltine Country Club in Chaska, Minn.

 

Sophomore Trent Price broke into the top 20 with a final round of 76 for an 11-over par 299 (71-78-74-76) through four rounds, leaving him in a tie for 18th.

 

“The more (sophomore) Trent (Price) can play, the better he’s going to get,” Spangler said. “This is one of the few par-72 match-play tournaments we can play in, so it’s a great opportunity to continue to get comfortable and feel confident with his swing.”

 

Price established his college golf game in 2005-06, 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).