Huskers Finish Third At Central Regional, Qualify For NCAAs

Columbus, Ohio--The No. 13 Nebraska men's golf team made history Saturday, finishing third at the 21-team NCAA Central Regional -- the highest regional finish in school history, which automatically qualifies NU for the NCAA Championships, June 2-5, in Minneapolis, Minn. It is the first time in school history that the Huskers have qualified for the NCAA Championships in consecutive seasons and is the fourth time NU has advanced to the national championships.

Nebraska recovered from a lackluster first round (298) on Thursday that found them in a tie for 12th after day one. In Friday's second round, however, the Huskers jumped five spots to seventh with a 295, and on Saturday, NU continued to shave the strokes and move up in the team standings, carding a 289 to finish third with an 18-over-par 289. The Huskers beat all seven Big 12 schools in the tournament, including Big 12 champion Kansas, No. 6 Oklahoma State and No. 9 Texas.

The third-place team finish tops last year's fifth-place finish at the regional tournament -- then a school record. Last season, the Huskers went on to finish 20th at the NCAA Championships. NU finished 13th at the 1997 NCAA Central Regional and in 1996, finished 21st.

No. 10 Minnesota won the meet at one-over-par 865, followed by No. 12 Northwestern in second (868). Other teams earning bids to the 1999 NCAA Championships from the Central Region include: No. 6 Oklahoma State, fourth (883); No. 5 Houston, tie for fifth (886); Toledo, fifth (886); Illinois, seventh (888); Arkansas, eighth (890); Kansas, ninth (894) and Colorado, 10th (897).

Leading the way individually for Nebraska on the final day of play was senior Australian Jamie Rogers. Rogers fired his ninth sub-70 round of the season with a 69 Saturday to finish in a tie for 15th at 218, two shots over par. Rogers, who finished runnerup at last season's regional tournament, shot a 73 in the first round before struggling to a 76 Friday.

Seniors Steve Friesen and Josh Madden also finished among the field's top 30. Friesen, a native of Lincoln, Neb., carded a 74 Saturday to finish at four-over-par 220 in a three-way tie for 24th. Madden, who hails from Gold Coast, Australia, finished one stroke behind Friesen at 221 after firing a 75 for the day.

Senior Omaha native Scott Gutschewski -- tied for 79th after day one -- finished in a tie for 37th with a 223 stroke total following a final-day 71. Freshman Seth Porter, a native of Hastings, Neb., also improved his position on the final day of competition, carding a 77 to finish in 92nd with a 234, up from a tie for 95th Friday.

Minnesota's James McLean claimed individual medalist honors with a four-under-par 212. Northwestern's Luke Donald was second (213), followed by Ball State's Jamie Broce and Tulsa's Martin Maritz in third (215).

The Huskers will return to Lincoln to prepare for the 1999 NCAA Championships, which are held June 2-5 in Chaska (Minneapolis), Minn.