Lincoln - The Nebraska women's golf team shot a final round 300 to finish with a three-round total of 904 to power its way to a 31-stroke victory at the Chip-N Club Invitational at Wilderness Ridge Golf Club on Tuesday afternoon.
With the victory, Nebraska captured its first team title since winning the Heather Farr Memorial in Boulder, Colo., Oct. 8-9, 2001. The Huskers claimed their first Chip-N Club title since 2000.
Nebraska finished 31 strokes ahead of second-place Denver and third-place Kansas State. Both the Pioneers and Wildcats finished at 935, but Denver was awarded runner-up honors based on the tiebreaking procedure of the lowest round by the fifth golfer. Illinois State finished fourth, 40 strokes off the lead at 944.
Nebraska's dominant performance in the tournament was highlighted by five individual top-10 performances, including a second-place finish from junior Merynn Ito (Aiea, Hawaii) and a third-place effort from senior co-captain Stephanie Schaefer (Columbus, Neb.).
Ito shot a final-round 74 that included a 1-under-par 35 on Tuesday's final nine holes. Ito finished four strokes behind individual medalist Christine Boucher (76-72-71-219) from Kansas State. Boucher's 1-under-par 71 was the top round of the day by an individual.
Schaefer, who entered the final round in first place, slipped two spots to third after settling for a 79 over the final 18 holes. Schaefer, who fired a tournament-low 3-under-par 69 in Monday's second round, finished at 225, six strokes off the pace.
Sophomore Jackie Beste (Sauke Center, Minn.) shot another solid round with a 77 to finish in fifth place overall with a 230. Junior Stephanie Ruiz (Edmond, Okla.), who was a late addition to Nebraska's top five on Sunday after an injury to freshman Christine McArdle, matched Ito's third-round 74 to climb into a tie for eighth place at 232. Junior Sarah Sackett (Cambridge, Neb.) added a 75 on Tuesday to finish in a tie for 10th.
Nebraska Coach Robin Krapfl said the Huskers' steady play throughout the tournament was a great sign for the future.
"To have all five players in our lineup finish in the top 10 shows the kind of depth and talent this team really has," Krapfl said. "A 31-shot margin against a field that included the kind of teams in this field, is really a credit to how hard our players are working and the kind of team they want to be."
Krapfl said the Huskers' second- and third-round scores of 297 and 300, respectively, could be a building block for future scores.
"I think our players realize that they are good players, and they can compete against some of the teams that they might have been a little intimidated by in the past," Krapfl said. "I hope our scores just keep getting lower."
The Nebraska "White" team added a 10th-place finish (990) in the 12-team field. Redshirt freshman Andrea Dunagan (Grand Island, Neb.) fired a 78 on Tuesday to finish in a tie for 15th place overall at 237.
Final Team Results (Three Rounds)
1. Nebraska (307-297-300-904)
2. Denver (308-320-307-935)
3. Kansas State (307-321-307-935)
4. Illinois State (313-324-307-944)
5. Nevada (315-316-314-945)
6. Iowa State (313-318-331-962)
7. Oral Roberts (326-321-324-971)
8. SMS (334-328-313-975)
9. North Texas (325-339-321-985)
10. Nebraska White (337-328-325-990)
11. Wichita State (330-339-343-1,012)
12. Creighton (341-337-347-1,025)
Top 10 Individuals
1. Christine Boucher, Kansas State (76-72-71-219)
2. Merynn Ito, Nebraska (72-77-74-223)
3. Stephanie Schaefer, Nebraska (77-69-79-228)
4. Samantha Richdale, Illinois State (74-80-74-228)
5. Jackie Beste, Nebraska (78-75-77-230)
6. Kate Waggoner, Denver (76-81-74-231)
Erin Long, Nevada (77-79-75-231)
8. Stephanie Ruiz, Nebraska (80-78-74-232)
*Cindy Whitmore, Iowa State (76-78-78-232)
10. Sara Sackett, Nebraska (82-76-75-233)
Leanne Owens, Iowa State (78-77-78-233)
Emily Hoeper, Denver (77-79-77-233)
*played as an individual
Nebraska (Final Individual Results)
2. Merynn Ito, Nebraska (72-77-74-223)
3. Stephanie Schaefer, Nebraska (77-69-79-228)
5. Jackie Beste, Nebraska (78-75-77-230)
T8. Stephanie Ruiz, Nebraska (80-78-74-232)
T10.Sara Sackett, Nebraska (82-76-75-233)
Nebraska "White" (Final Individual Results)
T15. Andrea Dunagan (81-78-78-237)
T44. Chelsea Gehring (86-83-80-249
T44. Julie Harder (85-81-83-249)
50. Beth Anne Cherry (85-86-84-255)
54. Madison Schroeder (87-89-86-262)