Norman, Okla. - Oklahoma native Stephanie Ruiz fired a one-under par 143 through the first two rounds to finish the first day of the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic in third place, while helping the Huskers to fourth place in the team standings entering Monday's final round.
Ruiz, a native of Edmond, Okla., opened the 54-hole tournament with an even par 72 in Sunday's first round, before sizzling in the second round with a one-under par 71 on the par-72, 6,013-yard Jimmie Austin University of Oklahoma Golf Course - the same golf course she won the Oklahoma Class 6A state title as a senior at Edmond Memorial High School.
Ruiz's 143 tied Oklahoma State's Jennifer Karr in third place, three strokes behind tournament-leader Pernilla Lindberg of Oklahoma State.
As a team, Nebraska managed a 306 in the first round, before firing a strong 291 in the second round to finish the day at 597. The Huskers enter Monday's final 18 holes 30 strokes back of Oklahoma State, which produced a nine-under par 567 as a team. NU leads five of the other seven Big 12 Conference schools in the 17-team field.
Nebraska junior Chrissie McArdle and sophomore Allison Stewart closed the first two rounds tied for 21st with scores of 150. McArdle shot 77 in the first round, but came back with 73 in the second round to move her up from 44th after the first 18 holes. Stewart managed a 78 in the first round, before firing an even par 72 over the second 18 holes to vault from 47th to 21st in the individual standings.
Sophomore Elli Brown sits in a tie for 44th with 154 (79-75), while senior Sara Sackett finished the day in a tie for 54th with a 157 (82-75).
"Once we adjusted to the surface in the second round, we all played much better," Nebraska Coach Robin Krapfl said. "We played well and I think we're in good shape. This tournament is really getting us prepared for the Big 12 Conference Tournament next week at home in Lincoln."
The Huskers will play the final round tomorrow with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Nebraska will play host to Big 12 Championship at the Country Club of Lincoln, April 17-19.
Susie Maxwell Berning Classic
Jimmie Austin University of Oklahoma Golf Course
Par-72, 6,013-yards
Team Leaders
1. Oklahoma State, 283-284-567
T2. SMU, 298-298-596
T2. Texas, 294-302-596
4. Nebraska, 306-291-597
5. Kansas State, 308-295-603
6. Oklahoma, 306-299-605
7. North Texas, 310-296-606
T8. Oral Roberts, 307-300-607
T8. Colorado, 305-302-607
10. Arkansas-Little Rock, 297-314-611
11. Baylor, 303-309-612
12. Kansas, 310-303-613
13. Oklahoma City Univ., 312-305-617
14. Texas-El Paso, 306-313-619
15. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 316-309-625
16. Missouri State, 318-314-632
17. Wichita State, 322-314-636
Nebraska Individual Scores
T3. Stephanie Ruiz, 72-71-143
T21. Chrissie McArdle, 77-73-150
T21. Allison Stewart, 78-72-150
T44. Elli Brown, 79-75-154
T 54. Sara Sackett, 82-75-157