Manhattan, Kan. - A day after setting the school record with the best round in school history, Nebraska senior Steph Ruiz closed the tournament with a 75 to finish in a tie for first, before falling on the second playoff hole to finish as the runner-up at the Marilyn Smith/Sunflower Invitational in Manhattan, Kan., on Tuesday. Ruiz helped the Nebraska women's golf team manage a final-round 308 despite rainy conditions to finish in second place with an 890 team score.
The Huskers finished 21 strokes behind the team champions from Texas Christian, which produced an impressive team total of 869 over 54 holes on the par-72, 6,046-yard course at Colbert Hills Country Club. The tournament hosts from Kansas State finished three strokes behind the Huskers in the third place at 893.
After coming into the final round with a one-stroke lead, Ruiz shot a 75 to tie Kansas State's Helene Robert of Kansas State, but lost on the second playoff hole. Both players finished regulation with scores of one-under-par 215.
Monday, the Edmond, Okla., native shot a school-record five-under-par 67 to break the mark of 68 set by Amy Roux on Oct. 13, 1998, at the Big Ten/Big 12 Shootout at the Legends' Challenge (first round) in Franklin, Ind., and tied by Elizabeth Bahensky in the third round of the 2000 NCAA Chapionships in Sunriver, Ore.
Ruiz has produced three top-five finishes in Nebraska's first three tournaments of the fall season and owns a 72.7 stroke average. Nebraska Coach Robin Krapfl said Ruiz's impressive play and leadership throughout the first half of the Huskers' fall season has been enjoyable to watch.
“She has started off this year just playing fantastic and it is great to see," Krapfl said. "She has finished in the top five in all three tournaments and seems to keep playing better with every tournament. I am very proud of what she is doing and accomplishing this year because she has put in the time and the work to improve her game and she has done just that."
Five Huskers finished in the top 20, with sophomore Elli Brown placing ninth after shooting 80 in the final round to finish with 223(72-71-80). Senior Sara Sackett finished with 225 (78-72-75) to place her in a tie for 12th, while junior Chrissie McArdle shot 227 (74-75-78) to earn 18th place.
Competing as an individual, redshirt freshman Megan Place tied her career-low 75 to finish in a tie for 15th with 226 (76-75-75). Place's third-round score matched her previous career-best set in Monday's second round.
Monday, the Huskers tied the school scoring records for 18-holes with 285 in the second round and 582 for 36-holes. Both were set at the 1998 Chip-N Club Invitational.
“Overall we had a solid tournament," Krapfl said. "Our players really fought back hard to shoot the score they did because we really got off to a bad start in the rain. We had to play our first three holes in the rain and we really struggled on those holes, but they battled back and really competed to finish at 308 today in some tough conditions.”
Nebraska will be back in action at the Lady Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., Oct. 16-18. The 54-hole tournament will include single rounds on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, at the tournament hosted by the University of Arkansas.
Team Results
1. TCU (287-283-299-869)
2. Nebraska (297-285-308-890)
3. Kansas State (301-294-298-893)
4. Oral Roberts (304-299-309-912)
5. Missouri State (311-302-304-917)
6. Kansas (315-297-311-923)
7. Texas-El Paso (316-297-315-928)
8. Arkansas-Little Rock (314-306-316-936)
9. Wichita State (322-299-322-943)
North Texas (320-305-318-943)
11. Xavier (317-300-330-947)
12. UMKC (326-324-345-995)
Nebraska Individuals
2. Stephanie Ruiz (73-67-75-215)
9. Elli Brown (72-71-80-223)
T12. Sara Sackett (78-72-75-225)
18. Chrissie McArdle (74-75-78-227)
46. Jackie Beste (85-76-81-242)
T15. Megan Place (76-75-75-226)*
T31. Chelsea Gehring (82-75-76-233)*
*competed as an individual