Sunriver, Ore. -- The No. 26 Nebraska women's golf team concluded play in its first-ever NCAA Tournament Saturday at the Crosswater Club and Sunriver Resort with a four-day team score of 1239 and a 19th-place finish.
Arizona, ranked No. 2 in the nation during the regular season, was crowned the national champion with a 23-over-par score of 1175. The Wildcats carried a 28-stroke lead into the final day of competition after shooting a 7-under-par 281 on Friday. Stanford finished second with an 1196, and Texas claimed third with an 1198.
No. 1 ranked Duke, the defending national champion, finished 14th with a 12 18. Arizona's Jenna Daniels won the individual national title with a 287.
Nebraska produced its highest round of the tournament with a 316 on a day when wind and rain significantly slowed the pace of play on the par-72, 6,842-yard course, but NU coach Robin Krapfl said the Huskers were satisfied with their performance.
"Finishing in the top 20 was pretty good for our first showing at nationals," Krapfl said. "Especially today. It was just miserable. The play was so slow. Everyone had to keep getting out their umbrellas and toweling off. But it was a great experience for the girls. I'm really proud of them."
For the second day in a row, senior Elizabeth Bahensky (Kearney, Neb.) produced the top score for NU. Bahensky, who tied the NU school record for an individual 18-hole round Friday with a 68, shot a 76 for a four-day total of 301. She finished tied for 25th.
"I couldn't be more happy for Elizabeth," Krapfl said. "She played two really solid rounds to end her career. It was a great finish for her."
Sophomore Sarah Sasse (Lincoln, Neb.) provided NU with its second-highest finish, posting a fourth-round score of 77 and a tournament-total of 304 to tie for 41st. Sophomore Catha Fogelberg (Helsingborg, Sweden) shot an 82 Saturday and finished tied for 87th overall with a 314. Junior Amy Roux shot an 81 for a four-day total of 321, and sophomore Amanda Sutcliffe (Gunnedah, New South Wales) shot an 84 Saturday for a tournament total of 332.
Before the 2000 NCAA Tournament, the Huskers' best postseason finish was a tie for 11th at the NCAA West Regional in 1996. Nebraska had completed at regionals on four previous occasions (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997), missing the NCAAs by one stroke in both 1995 and 1996 before qualifying this season with a ninth-place finish at the 2000 West Regional in Tempe, Ariz.
Four of the Huskers top five golfers will return next season, including Roux, Fogelburg, Sasse and Sutcliffe. Also returning for Nebraska will be sophomore Stephanie Schaefer (Columbus, Neb.) and freshman Amanda Krane (Wantagh, N.Y.).
Nebraska Player Totals
|
No. |
Name |
Rd. 1 |
Rd. 2 |
Rd. 3 |
Rd. 4 |
Total |
|
t25 |
Elizabeth Bahensky |
79 |
78 |
68 |
76 |
301 |
|
t41 |
Sarah Sasse |
74 |
75 |
78 |
77 |
304 |
|
t87 |
Catha Fogelberg |
79 |
78 |
75 |
82 |
314 |
|
t107 |
Amy Roux |
79 |
80 |
81 |
81 |
321 |
|
t120 |
Amanda Sutcliffe |
78 |
85 |
85 |
84 |
332 |