Huskers Travel to Tucson this weekend

Nebraska is part of 15-team field that will be competing in the Mountain View Collegiate, Saturday-Sunday, March 27-28, in Tucson, Ariz. This will be the Huskers first appearance in the tournament.

Three rounds on the 6,040-yard, par 72 course will be the stage for Nebraska. Rounds one and two will be played on Saturday with the final round on Sunday.

In the No. 1 spot for the Huskers will be junior Merynn Ito. Senior captain Stephanie Schaefer will follow, with sophomore Jackie Beste and freshman Christine McArdle at the third and fourth spots, respectively. Competing for the first time as part of team scoring will be sophomore Sara Sackett, who will play at the No. 5 spot.

Last year's tournament winner, International Pacific, will return to defend its title. In three-rounds International Pacific tallied a score of 890, firing a team tournament low 293 in the third round.

The 2003 Individual tournament winner, Christine Boucher, is expected to be in Kansas State's lineup to protect her title. Last year the senior fired a three-round score of 217.

The Huskers will compete against 14 other teams, including hosts Colorado and Colorado State. Boise State, Denver, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisville, Northern Arizona, Portland State, San Diego State and Washington State round out the five player team field. Arizona and Iowa will compete as individuals.

Nebraska Finishes 14th at Springs Shootout
The Nebraska women's golf team dropped to 14th place in the final round of the Baylor-Tapatio Springs Shootout Sunday afternoon. The Huskers sat in 11th place entering Sunday's final round, but shot a score of 333 to finish the tournament with a three-round total of 967.

After showing improvement on Saturday, the Huskers were unable to keep the momentum going during the final round.

"They are just trying too hard," Head Coach Robin Krapfl said. "The harder they try, the more pressure they put on themselves, and the worse they play."

Sophomore Sara Sackett shot seven-over par 79 in the third round for the team's low round of the day. Senior Stephanie Schaefer finished tied for 51st place with a three-round tally of 241 (80-77-84). Three Huskers ended the tournament tied for 54th place, including Christine McArdle, Jackie Beste and Merynn Ito, as all three compiled a final score of 241.

Five of the Huskers' eight golfers lowered their scores in Saturday's round. Ito clipped four strokes from her opening-round score with a 77, jumping 16 spots to tie for 42nd place. Ito was matched by Schaefer with a five-over par 77 Saturday's round for the team's best rounds of the weekend.

In the first round, sophomore Jackie Beste led the Huskers with a six over par-78 on the 6,007-yard, par 72 Tapatio Springs Golf Resort course.

Scouting the Mountain View Golf Course
Located 15 minutes north of Tucson, Ariz., the Mountain View Golf Course is relatively new. Built in 1997 and designed by Gary Panks, the par-72, 6,040 yard course has water every three holes on the front nine and every other hole on the back nine. The most difficult hole is No. 8, a par 3 that measure 207 yards, uphill to a green with two bunkers protecting the back left portion. The course's trickiest hole is No. 11, which measures 428 yards with a wash that crosses at 275 yards.

Nebraska in the Ratings

Entering the Mountain View Collegiate the Huskers are listed at No. 58 by the March 22, GolfWeek Ratings. Of the teams competing in the tournament, Only three ahead of Nebraska, including No. 7 Arizona, No. 34 Kansas State and No. 43 San Diego State. Six of Nebraska's competitors sit in the 60s, while the remaining teams are No. 87 or higher.

In the GolfStat Statistical Rankings Nebraska is ranked slightly higher at No. 67. The Huskers sit comfortably in the middle of the all the competitors.

In both the GolfWeek Ratings and GolfStat Statistical Rankings, Arizona tops the list of teams participating in the Mountain View Collegiate. The Wildcats are No. 7 (GolfWeek) and No. 8 (GolfStat).