Huskers Lead at Chip-N Club Invite

Lincoln-  The Nebraska women's golf team produced a pair of strong rounds on its home course to lead the Chip-N Club Invitational by 20 strokes after the first day of competition in the two-day tournament at Wilderness Ridge Golf Course in Lincoln.

Nebraska's second set of golfers, the NU White team, sits in fifth place in the 10-team tournament field. Senior Jackie Beste, playing for the White squad, fired a career-best 72 in the second round to lead the tournament heading into the final 18 holes.

The Huskers shot 595 (295-300) through the first 36 holes, putting them comfortably in front of Louisville (313-302-615) and Kansas State (304-311-615), who sit in a tie for second place.  The NU White team sits in fifth place with 620 (314-306), four strokes behind Creighton and nine strokes ahead of Wichita State.

Beste, playing for the NU White, took the lead in the second round after shooting a 74 in the first round to end the day with a two-over par, 146.   

Head Coach Robin Krapfl said she was pleased with Beste's consistency throughout the day.

"Jackie really had a great day," Krapfl said. "She was steady, she stayed focused and she carried it through."

Nebraska's Stephanie Ruiz and Sara Sackett were right behind Beste, tying for second with three-over par scores of 147.  Ruiz, a senior from Edmond, Okla., led the tournament after the first round with her two-under par, 70, but shot 77 in the second round.  Sackett recorded two solid scores, producing a 75 in the first round and an even-par 72 in the second round.

Ruiz's first round score is the lowest she has produced on the Wilderness Ridge course. 

Krapfl said Ruiz turned in the performance of a team leader.

"Stephanie has been our leader all season," Krapfl said. "She really stepped up and did what it took.  That's what leaders do."

Junior Chrissie McArdle (74-78) and sophomore Elli Brown (79-73) finished the first 36 holes in a tie for 10th place at 152, while sophomore Allison Stewart sits in 15th place at 154 (76-78) for Nebraska.

For the NU White team, freshman Megan Place (76-79) and junior Andrea Dunagan (81-74) each finished at 155 after the first day of the tournament to head into the final round in a tie for 16th.  Senior Chelsea Gehring sits in a tie for 37th with 164 (83-81). 

Krapfl said although she was hoping Nebraska would shoot both rounds under 300, a 20-stroke lead is still very pleasing.

"We really played well out there today," Krapfl said. "I was a little disappointed we didn't keep the scores lower, but we still played very solid."

The Chip-N Club Invitational concludes with the final 18 holes on Tuesday morning at Wilderness Ridge Country Club.  Tee times begin at 8 a.m. with Creighton, Wichita State and Redlands Community College teeing off from the first hole, while South Dakota State, Montana and North Dakota State will tee off from the 10th hole.  Nebraska, Louisville and Kansas State will tee off from the first hole beginning at 8:50 a.m. The NU White squad and individuals from Creighton, Wichitat State, Kansas State, Louisville and Montana will tee off from the 10th hole starting at 8:50 a.m.

Team Standings
1. Nebraska (295-300-595)
2. Louisville (313-302-615)
    Kansas State (304-311-615)
4. Creighton (310-306-616)
5. NU White (314-306-620)
6. Wichita State (315-314-629)
7. Redlands CC (313-319-632)
    South Dakota State (317-315-632)
9. Montana (325-313-638)
10. North Dakota State (332-328-660)

Nebraska Individual Standings
2. Stephanie Ruiz (70-77-147)
    Sara Sackett (75-72-147)
10. Chrissie McArdle (74-78-152)
      Elli Brown (79-73-152)
15. Allison Stewart (76-78-154)

NU White Individual Standings
1. Jackie Beste (74-72-146)
16. Megan Place (76-79-155)
     Andrea Dunagan (81-74-155)
37. Chelsea Gehring (83-81-164)