Huskers Sit in Third at Soggy Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational

Manhattan, Kan. - The Nebraska women's golf team carded rounds of 306 and 313 in rainy and windy conditions to enter the final round in third place at the Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational at the Colbert Hills Golf Course in Manhattan, Kan., Monday.

The Huskers' two-round total of 619 entering Tuesday's final 18 holes placed them just five strokes behind the hosts from Kansas State (614) and one shot back of second-place SMU (618).

Nebraska coach Robin Krapfl said the Huskers battled the weather to stay in the title hunt.

"On the morning 18, we got off to a bad start on the front nine and shot 18-over, but we came back to shoot even par on the back nine," Krapfl said. "Then in the second round, the wind really started to howl, and it was raining sideways, and we were just trying to hang on over the last six holes."

Merynn Ito led Nebraska's effort on Monday by firing rounds of 73 and 76 to finish the day with a five-over par 149 in a tie for third place. The junior from Aiea, Hawaii, is just three strokes behind tournament leader Samantha Richdale from Illinois State, who carded a two-over par 146 on the day.

Krapfl said Ito's performance down the stretch in the second round was a key to NU staying in contention.

"Merynn holed her shot from the fairway for an eagle on 18, which was just an amazing shot in those conditions," Krapfl said. "You have to give her a lot of credit for hanging in there in those tough conditions to shoot a 76, which was really a great score."

Junior Stephanie Ruiz also produced solid rounds in the tough conditions with an opening-round 77 and a second-round 78 to finish the day at 155 in a tie for ninth place.

Juniors Sara Sackett (79-77-156) and Beth Anne Cherry (78-78-156) also remained in the hunt for top-10 finishes by ending day one in a tie for 12th. Freshman Christine McArdle (79-78-157) was just one shot behind Sackett and Cherry in a tie for 16th.

Senior Stephanie Schaefer, who owns four consecutive top-20 finishes this fall, enters the final round in a tie for 23rd after an opening-round 77 was followed by an 82 to finish the day at 159. Sophomore Jackie Beste, who entered the tournament with a high round of 79 this fall, settled for a first-round 81 and a second-round 85 to sit in a tie for 44th at 166.

The Huskers will close the 12-team tournament on Tuesday with a shotgun start set for 8:30 a.m.

Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational
Colbert Hills Golf Course
Manhattan, Kan.
(6,151 yards/par 72)

Team Scores (First-Second-Total)
1. Kansas State (302-312-614)
2. SMU (306-312-618)
3. Nebraska (306-313-619)
4. Arkansas-Little Rock (311-314-625)
5. Kansas (305-328-633)
6. Illinois State (317-319-636)
7. Michigan (315-323-638)
8. Iowa (308-333-641)
9. North Texas (323-322-645)
10. Wichita State (353-328-681)
11. UMKC (345-342-687)
12. Creighton (343-366-709)

Nebraska Individuals (First-Second-Total)
T3. Merynn Ito (73-76-149)
T9. Stephanie Ruiz (77-78-155)
T12. Sara Sackett (79-77-156)
T12. Beth Anne Cherry (78-78-156)**
T16. Christine McArdle (79-78-157)**
T23. Stephanie Schaefer (77-82-159)
T44. Jackie Beste (81-85-166)
**Playing as an individual