<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Austin, Texas ? The Nebraska women’s golf team battled rough conditions again at the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational on its way to a final round 333 to finish the three-day tournament in 13th place with a 969.
Nebraska's 333 on the final 18 holes on the 6,323-yard, par-72 layout at The University of Texas Golf Club in Austin, followed a 334 Saturday. Those two rounds forced the Huskers to fall from first place after putting together an opening-round 302 on Friday to lead a 17-team tournament field that included seven top-25 teams, including national No. 1 Duke. <?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
“It was another tough day,” Nebraska Coach Robin Krapfl said. “There were high winds from a different direction and we just didn’t have our best game out there today.”
Freshman Elli Brown provided a highlight on Sunday for the Huskers by firing a two-over-par 74 to finish the tournament at 232 in a tie for 18th place. Brown opened the tournament with a two-under-par 70 on Friday, but struggled with an 88 on Saturday, before bouncing back with a strong final round.
“Elli played well," Krapfl said. "Her length helped her in this tournament and her short-game was on today. She had a good tournament in a quality field and came back better for the last day.”
Senior Merynn Ito battled the conditions to finish at 82 in the final round to drop her into a tie for 38th place at 239 for the tournament. Sophomore Chrissie McArdle, who had produced a pair of solid 78s in the first two rounds, struggled with an 87 on Sunday to close in a tie for 54th at 243.
Junior Sara Sackett produced NU's second-best on Sunday with an 81, which tied her for 76th place with a 249.
“We just have to keep practicing and hopefully get things straightened out for the next tournament,” Krapfl said. “We need to work on our short games. We have our work cut out for us, but we’re going to do better.”
The Huskers continue a busy competitive schedule by traveling to Las Vegas, Nev., to open the UNLV Spring Invitational tomorrow. The three-day tournament begins on Monday, March 14 at 10:30 a.m., and continues through Wednesday, March 16.
Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational
The University of Texas Golf Club
Par 72, 6,323 Yards
Final Team Standings
1. Duke ? 307-307-300-914
2. Oklahoma State ? 310-306-299-915
3. Texas ? 313-308-303-924
4. Arizona State ? 315-308-303-926
5. Arkansas ? 309-302-316-927
6. TCU ? 324-307-307-938
7. Missouri ? 325-310-313-948
8. Tulsa ? 311-321-319-951
9. Texas A&M ? 312-326-312-954
10. New Mexico State ? 325-317-912-954
11. SMU ? 325-323-309-957
12. Baylor ? 323-323-322-968
13. Nebraska ? 302-334-333-969
14. Kansas State ? 322-328-322-973
15. Oklahoma ? 327-326-320-973
16. Kansas ? 329-330-319-978
17. Texas Tech ? 325-324-334-983
Nebraska Individuals
T18. Elli Brown ? 70-88-74-232
T38. Merynn Ito ? 73-84-82-239
T54. Chrissie McArdle ? 78-78-87-243
T76. Sara Sackett ? 86-82-81-249
T85. Chelsea Gehring ? 86-84-84-254
T88. Jackie Beste ? 81-84-90-255
99. Allison Stewart ? 84-90-96-270