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Lincoln -- Fresh off a fifth-place finish at the Big 12 Championships, the Nebraska women's golf team is slated to host the 2003 NCAA Central Regional, May 8-10, at the par-71, 6,033-yard Firethorn Golf Course.
This marks just the second time in school history that NU has hosted a regional. The Huskers also hosted the 1996 NCAA West Regional at the Champions Club in Omaha. In that regional, NU finished 12th out of 20 teams, narrowly missing a bid to the NCAA Championships.
Big 12 Champion and Golfer-of-the-Year Sarah Sasse leads the Huskers. The senior from Lincoln has shot the best golf of her career as of late. She is coming off the Big 12 title, in which Sasse fired a four-over par 220 to win by three strokes.
The Huskers are heading to their eighth NCAA Regional in school history, and the fourth consecutive regional appearence. NU looks to qualify for the NCAA Championships, May 20-23, in West Lafayette, Ind. The top eight teams and top two individuals from non-qualifying teams will advance to the NCAA Championships.
The Huskers also qualified in 2000 as a team, and Sasse competed as an individual at the 2001 championships. At the 2002 Central Regional in East Lansing, Mich., the Huskers finished 19th out of 21 teams.
Of the 21 teams slated to compete at the regional, four are ranked in Golfweek's Top 10, while nine are ranked among the top 25. The Huskers jumped seven spots to 48th in the latest poll. NU had been ranked 55th going into the Big 12 Championships.
Nebraska players will start on the 10th tee in the first round from 12:30 -1:10 p.m. and start on the first hole beginning Friday morning at 8:30 a.m.
The Huskers are coming off a fifth-place finish at the Big 12 Championships in Columbia, Mo., as Oklahoma State took home their third straight Big 12 title. Missouri finished second, just one stroke behind the Cowgirls. Texas finished third, followed by Oklahoma.
The NU lineup will be Sasse, junior Stephanie Schaefer, sophomores Merynn Ito, Stephanie Ruiz and Beth Anne Cherry.