NU Golfers Tie For Ninth at NCAA Regional Tune-up

Ardmore, Okla.-- The 12th-ranked Nebraska men's golf team struggled to a ninth-place finish at The Maxwell Invitational Sunday at Dornick Hills Country Club in Ardmore, Okla. Entering the tournament, the Huskers had not finished lower than fourth in 11 contests during the 1998-99 season.

The Huskers, who shot an 890 -- including a season-high 304 in the final round -- tied USC for ninth. Nebraska was tied for third following the first 36 holes of the tournament, but its final-round 304 tied Texas A&M for Sunday's high round of the tournament.

For the first time in four Maxwell tournaments, Oklahoma State did not take home the title. Houston took top honors with an 864, followed by Florida (871) in second, Oklahoma State (878) in third and Georgia (879) in fourth.

Senior Jamie Rogers led the Huskers with his ninth top 10 finish of the season. Rogers tied for 10th with a seven-over-par 217 after firing a 71 Sunday. Steve Friesen was tied for fourth with a two-over-par 142 before Suinday's round of 83 knocked him into a tie for 39th at 225. Fellow senior teammate Scott Gutschewski (77-71-77--225) joined Friesen and four others in 39th.

Josh Madden tied for 53rd (76-75-77--228) and freshman Seth Porter rounded out the Husker effort with a 72nd-place finish (84-74-79).

Houston's Andy Sanders, who led the field after 36 holes, secured individual medalist honors Sunday with a final round of 68. Sanders finished three shots under par with 207 strokes (71-68-68) -- five strokes ahead of Florida's Camilo Benedetti (212).

The Huskers will return to Lincoln late this evening and leave for the NCAA Central Regional in Columbus, Ohio (May 20-22) on Tuesday, May 18. NU, who finished 20th at the 1998 NCAA Championships, look to earn one of 10 bids to this season's national championship meet at the 21-team regional.