Elizabeth Bahensky Season 1996-97

Honors & Awards

• Highest Individual NCAA Tournament Finish in School History (Tied for 25th, 2000)
• Best Individual Round at NCAA Tournament in School History, (68, 3rd, 2000)
• Tied for Best Individual Score at NCAA Tournament in School History (301, 2000)
• Two-Time NCAA West Regional Competitor (1997, 2000)
• Two-Time Big 12 All-Tournament Team (1997, 1998)
• Three-Time NGCA Scholastic All-American (1998, 1999, 2000)
• Three-Time Academic All-Big 12 (1998, 1999, 2000)
• Nine Career Top-10 Tournament Finishes

Senior (1999-00)
Elizabeth Bahensky capped one of the best individual careers in Nebraska history by leading the Huskers to their first-ever trip to the NCAA Team Championships. The Kearney, Neb., native also helped NU to its best-ever team finish at the championships by posting the best individual score in school history at the event. Bahensky's four-round total of 301 led her to a tie for 25th individually, the best-ever finish by a Husker at the national championships. Her score was later matched by Stephanie Ruiz at the 2006 NCAA Championships. Bahensky's effort, which included a then-school record and career-best 68 in the third round, helped NU to a 19th-place team finish in the 24-team field in Sunriver, Ore., May 24-27.

Bahensky helped the Huskers punch their ticket to nationals with a season-best three-round score of 229 (76-76-77) to tie for 61st at the 2000 NCAA West Regional at the Karsten Golf Course in Tempe, Ariz., May 8-10.

A model of consistency for the Huskers as a senior, Bahensky posted nine top-25 finishes as a senior, including a tie for third at the OU/Susie Maxwell Berning Classic (231). She added a tie for ninth at the Lady Razorback Invitational early in the fall campaign, before tying for 10th at the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Classic  (231) in the spring. She just missed a fourth top-10 finish of the season by tying for 11th (239) at the Midwest Classic to open the spring campaign, while matching that effort with a tie for 11th at the 2000 Big 12 Tournament (230).

For the season, she owned NU's second-best stroke average (77.79) trailing only All-American Sarah Sasse among the Huskers. A four-year letterwinner for the Huskers, Bahensky closed her career with nine career top-10 tournament finishes. Bahensky finished her career with a 78.50 stroke average over 113 rounds. 

In addition to her success on the course, Bahensky was a three-time NGCA Scholastic All-American and a three-time academic All-Big 12 selection.

Junior (1998-99)
Nebraska's most consistent golfer as a junior, Bahensky led the Huskers with a 77.03 stroke average during the 1998-99 season. She closed the fall with four consecutive rounds of 75 or better, including a season-best 70 in the final round at the Princeville Rainbow Wahine Invitational on her way to a career-best three-round score of 220.

Bahensky notched four top-10 individual finishes on the season, including a tie for sixth (226) to lead the Huskers at the Utah-Dixie Classic. She closed the season by earning Big 12 All-Tournament honors with a tie for eighth (226), including a final-round 71 at the Big 12 Championships.

She tied for fifth at the Chip-N Club Invitational early in the fall season, before adding a tie for 10th place in Hawaii. Bahensky posted Nebraska's top tournament score in five of 10 events, including each of the last four competitions.

Off the course, Bahensky earned academic All-Big 12 honors and claimed NGCA Scholastic All-America honors.

Sophomore (1997-98)
Bahensky was a regular in Nebraska's lineup in her second season with the Huskers, finishing with a 79.56 stroke average over 25 rounds.  She opened the season by tying for seventh (230) at the Chip-N Club Invitational, before tying for 12th (230) at the Jeannine McHaney Memorial. Her effort in Lubbock, Texas included a season-best round of 73. After struggling at the Dick McGuire Invitational, she bounced back with three solid rounds to tie for 20th (235) at the Colorado Invitational.

She did not compete at the Big 12 Fall Preview, before earning a lineup spot in every spring tournament, posting her best finish of the spring with a tie for 26th (237) at the Big 12 Championships.

Off the course, Bahensky earned academic All-Big 12 honors and claimed NGCA Scholastic All-America honors.

Freshman (1996-97)
Bahensky was a part-time starter in Nebraska's lineup and came on strong late in the year to help the Huskers earn a trip to the 1997 NCAA West Regional. She earned the first lineup spot of her career at NU's third fall event at the Lady Tar Heel Invitational, Sept. 27-29, closing in a tie for 36th at 238. She did not return to Nebraska's top five until the Utah-Dixie Classic, April 7-8. In Utah, she fired three consistent rounds of 80 to finish in a tie for 36th (240), before capturing Big 12 All-Tournament honors in NU's next competition at the Big 12 Championships, April 21-22.

At the Big 12 Tournament, Bahensky fired a 234 to finish in a tie for fifth, while helping Nebraska to a third-place team finish. She continued to surge at the NCAA West Regional, posting NU's No. 2 score with consistent rounds of 75-76-76 to close at a season-best 227. Her opening-round 75 was also a season best.

High School/Amateur
Bahensky won two Class A State titles in her illustrious career at Kearney High School, including the all-class title her senior year. She was named all-state in golf each of her four varsity seasons and was an academic all-state selection after both her junior and senior years. She was the 1999 Nebraska Match Play and Stroke Play champion. She was one of five native Nebraskans on the 1999-2000 Husker squad, including Kearney High School teammate Amy Roux.

Personal
The daughter of Dan and Beth Bahensky, Elizabeth was a three-time NGCA Scholastic All-American and a three-time academic All-Big 12 selection for the Huskers. She earned her bachelor's degree in business administration from Nebraska.

Bahensky’s Career Statistics

Year	Rounds	Strokes	Avg.	Low 18	Low 54
1996-97	21	1,690	80.48	75	227
1997-98	25	1,991	79.64	73	230
1998-99	29	2,234	77.03	70	220
1999-00	38	2,956	77.79	68	229
Totals	113	8,871	78.50	68	220