Parrish, Fla. Senior Stephanie Ruiz finished in second place to lead the <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska women’s golf team to a fourth-place team finish at the 14-team Central District Invitational hosted by MichiganState in Parrish, Fla., on Tuesday.
Ruiz, a native of Edmond, Okla., blitzed the 6,099-yard Wilderness Golf Course with a one-under par 71 in Tuesday's final round to finish the tournament at 219 (73-75-71). It was Ruiz's fifth top-five performance of the season and second straight top-two finish to open the Huskers' spring season. Last week, Ruiz opened the spring by capturing a tournament title the Baja Invitational in Ensenada, Mexico, Feb. 14.
Ruiz's 219 at the Central District Invitational put her four strokes behind tournament champion Lacey Jones of Southern Methodist, who shot 215. Ruiz entered the final round in a tie with fellow Husker Sara Sackett in third place at 148, but Sackett's closing round 78 dropped her into a tie for 11th at 226 (75-73-78).
The Huskers shot 914 (307-303-304), 18 strokes behind Big 12 Conference foe, Baylor, who won the 14-team tournament with an 896 (302-298-296). Ohio State finished second at 907, while SMU took third with a 908. The Huskers climbed one spot in the final standings on Tuesday after closing Monday's first two rounds in a tie for fifth place with Northwestern.
Junior Chrissie McArdle jumped in the standings from a tie for 45th place to a tie for 33rd with 233 (75-83-75). Sophomore Elli Brown dropped five places from a tie for 52nd to a tie for 57th with 239 (84-75-80), while senior Jackie Beste dropped from 69th to 72nd with 255 (87-80-88).
"Overall I'm pleased with how we played," Coach Robin Krapfl said. "We definitely weren't on top of our game, but we're just continuing to improve and we look forward to the rest of the season. Steph played great and had a wonderful tournament and we're looking forward to more of that from her this spring."
Central District Invitational
Wilderness Golf Club
Parrish, Fla.
Par-72, 6,099 Yards
Final Team Results
1. Baylor 302-298-296-896
2. Ohio State 301-308-298-907
3. Southern Methodist 298-311-299-908
4. Nebraska 307-303-304-914
5. Missouri 306-303-306-915
6. Louisiana State 304-309-308-921
7. Kansas 307-309-306-922
8. Michigan State 309-312-302-923
T9. Michigan 308-311-306-925
T9. Northwestern 300-310-315-925
11. Notre Dame 305-318-309-932
12. Illinois State 30-324-307-935
13. Kansas State 315-309-313-937
14. Texas Tech 327-312-313-952
Nebraska Individual Results
2. Stephanie Ruiz 73-75-71-219
T11. Sara Sackett 75-73-78-226
T33. Chrissie McArdle 75-83-75-233
T57. Elli Brown 84-75-80-239
72. Jackie Beste 87-80-88-255