Highlands Ranch, Colo. -- The Nebraska women's golf team fired a final-round 302 to capture its second consecutive team tournament title with a three-stroke victory at the Ron Moore Highlands Ranch Intercollegiate in Highlands Ranch, Colo., on Tuesday.
Nebraska shaved nine strokes off its opening-round 311 to finish the two-day event at 613, overcoming Iowa State's one shot lead heading into the tournament's second day. The Cyclones finished in a tie for second at 616 with the hosts from the University of Denver. Colorado finished fourth at 626.
The Huskers, who won the Chip-N Club Invitational team title Sept. 15-16 at Wilderness Ridge Golf Course in Lincoln, captured back-to-back team titles for the first time since winning the Big 12 Fall Preview and the Lady Razorback Invitational in 1999.
Coach Robin Krapfl said Nebraska played its best golf over the final nine holes to overcome the opposition.
"It's easy to win when you have a 20-stroke lead like we did in our last tournament, but coming from behind down the stretch like we did today really shows the kind of competitors and the kind of character that this team has," Krapfl said. "They are just a bunch of fighters, and they don't want to lose. They are willing to put in the work it takes to win."
Junior Stephanie Ruiz led the Huskers' charge on Tuesday by producing an even-par 72 on the 6,276-yard Highlands Ranch Golf Club course. Ruiz, a native of Edmond, Okla., closed the 36-hole event with a team-best 151 to finish in a tie for second. Her second-place finish surpassed her previous career-best finish of third at the Heather Farr Memorial Tournament, Oct. 8-9, 2001. The 72 was Ruiz's second-lowest round of her career, trailing only the 70 she shot in the second round of the Heather Farr Memorial in 2001. Ruiz entered the tournament's second round in a tie for 14th place after an opening-round 79 on Monday. She finished one stroke behind individual medalist Emily Hoeper (77-73-150) from Denver.
Krapfl said Ruiz was ready for a breakout round.
"She just played unbelievable today," Krapfl said. "She went from making something like 36 puts yesterday to just 27 today. She made some adjustments and they really paid off. It was great to see her play a great round because I think it is really going to help her confidence."
Three other Huskers managed top-12 individual finishes, including Merynn Ito (75-77-152) who finished in a tie for fourth. Ito was actually in the lead heading into the final hole but took a double-bogey to fall two strokes off the pace. It was Ito's second straight top-five finish and third top-15 finish in three tournaments this fall.
Senior captain Stephanie Schaefer added her second straight top-10 finish and third top-15 tournament finish of the fall by finishing in a tie for 10th (78-76-154). Sophomore Jackie Beste added her third consecutive top-15 finish as well by finishing in a tie for 12th (79-77-156). Freshman Chrissie McArdle rounded out Nebraska's lineup with a tie for 35th (86-79-165).
Junior Sara Sackett, playing as an individual, tied Beste's 12th-place performance (80-76-156) for her second straight top-15 finish. Sophomore Chelsea Gehring finished in a tie for 23rd (79-80-159), while redshirt freshman Andrea Dunagan (84-94-178) settled for a 45th-place finish.
Ron Moore Highlands Ranch Invitational
Highlands Ranch Golf Club
Highlands Ranch, Colo.
6,276 yards - Par 72
Final Results
1. Nebraska - 311-302-613
2. Iowa State - 308-308-616
Denver - 312-304-616
4. Colorado - 312-314-626
5. Wyoming - 321-309-630
6. Denver Gold - 320-322-642
7. Northern Colorado - 330-320-650
8. North Texas - 327-326-653
Nebraska Individuals
T2.Stephanie Ruiz - 79-72-151
T4. Merynn Ito - 75-77-152
T10. Stephanie Schaefer - 78-76-154
T12. Jackie Beste - 79-77-156
T35. Chrissie McArdle - 86-79-165
T12. Sara Sackett - 80-76-156**
T23. Chelsea Gehring - 79-80-159**
45. Andrea Dunagan - 84-94-178**
** competing as an individual