<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln-The Nebraska men’s golf team kicked off its 2005 fall schedule with a solid first two rounds of play in the Huskers' Fairway Club Invitational at the Firethorn Golf Club on Monday. Nebraska's team score of 583 through two rounds placed them on top of a 13-team field.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
Nebraska posted a team score of 291 in the first round that was matched by Missouri State University for the low team score of the day. The Huskers strung together another strong round with a 292 over the second 18 holes on the day. While the Huskers sizzled, Missouri State stumbled with a 308 in the second round, leaving the Huskers with a comfortable 16-stroke lead over the Bears. Missouri State’s first-day total of 599 was still good enough for second place at the end of the first day of competition.
Nebraska senior Judd Cornell and junior Brady Schnell anchored the Huskers well in the first round with even-par scores of 71. Cornell’s second-round began with two birdies and he continued to play well over the final 18 holes to finish with a 69. Cornell's two-round total of 140 put him on top of the leaderboard heading into Tuesday's final round.
Cornell's 69 matched Missouri State's Matt Sullivan, who fired an opening-round 69, for the best round of the day.
While Cornell improved throughout the day, Schnell started the second round with three birdies but had to settle for a second-round 75. Schnell said the strong winds in Lincoln made scoring conditions less than ideal during the day, but he is still in the hunt in the individual standings, as he enters the final day in fourth place.
“It’s blowing out there,” Schnell said. “It wears on you mentally and physically and makes it tough. My driver let me down multiple times.”
Three more Huskers grabbed a spot on the leaderboard, leaving the team with a tournament-leading five players in the top 12.
Trent Price finished at 149 (76-73), while Ryan Lenahan added a 149 (72-77) of his own to tie for eighth place. Drew Reynolds was consistent with two rounds of 75 to sit just one shot back in 12th place at 150.
Rounding out the top five teams for the first day of action was Northern Illinois (602), UMKC (605), and Drake (608).
The Fairway Club Invitational concludes on Tuesday with the final 18 holes, beginning with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. Following the Fairway Club Invitational, the Huskers return to action at the Inverness Intercollegiate in Toledo, Ohio, Sept. 19-20.