Men's Golf

Husker Men Fall One Stroke Short In Spring Opener

San Antonio--The Nebraska men's golf team opened its spring season with a runner-up finish Tuesday at the UTSA Invitational with the help of top 10 finishes from seniors Steve Friesen and Scott Gutschewski and top 25 performances from three other golfers.

The 21st-ranked Huskers, who won the tournament last season, fell one stroke short of successfully defending their UTSA title, as Texas-Arlington edged NU, 592-593. Texas El Paso, who led by six strokes after day one, finished third with a 597, followed by Texas-San Antonio in fourth (606) and Arkansas-Little Rock in fifth (611).

Friesen fired a two-round, two-under-par 146 (75-71) to tie with three other competitors for fourth place, and Gutschewski finished ninth with a 148 (75-73). Dating back to the 1998 fall season, Friesen has notched top 10 finishes in five of the last six tournaments.

Josh Madden and Jamie Rogers also finished in the top 20 for the Huskers. Madden tied for 15th with a 151 (75-76) and Rogers tied for 18th with a 152 (81-71). Ryan Nietfeldt, Nebraska's fifth senior in the lineup, tied for 22nd with a 153 (79-74).

The Huskers were tied for third after shooting a 304 during the first round, but trimmed Tuesday's round by 15 strokes, carding a 289 while jumping over two other title contenders.

Nebraska's next competition is March 8-9 in Lafayette, La., at the Louisiana Classic.

Team Results 1. Texas-Arlington 300-292--592 2. Nebraska 304-289--593 3. Texas El Paso 294-303--597 4. Texas-San Antonio 306-300--606 5. Arkansas-Little Rock 309-302--611 6. Sam Houston State 308-306--614 7. Southwest Texas 309-306--615 8. Lamar University 310-306--616 Texas-Pan American 307-309--616 10. Oral Roberts 304-315--619 11. Texas 317-305--622 12. McNeese State 321-304--625 13. Illinois State 326-302--628 14. Kansas State 323-306--629 15. Texas Tech 322-315--637 NE Louisiana 328-309--637 17. Stephen F. Austin State 318-320--638 18. Centenary College 332-330--662

Individual Finishers 1. Charan Thethy, Texas-Arlington 72-70--142 -2 2. Daniel Fox, Arkansas-Little Rock 75-70--145 +1 Phil Sinitiere, Sam Houston State 72-73--145 +1 4. Steve Friesen, Nebraska 75-71--146 +2 Magnus Dohlvik, Texas-San Antonio 71-75--146 +2 Ralph Gemoets, UTEP 7 -75146 +2 Adrian Quintela, UTEP 71-75--146 +2 8. Troy Grubert, Texas-Pan American 72-75--147 +3 9. Scott Gutschewski, Nebraska 75-73--148 +4 10. Adam Babb, Texas-Arlington 75-74--149 +5 Husker Golfers
T4. Steve Friesen 75-71--146 +2 9. Scott Gutschewski 75-73--148 +4
T15. Josh Madden 75-76--151 +7 T18. Jamie Rogers 81-71--152 +8 T22. Ryan Nietfeldt 79-74--153 +9