Schnell Qualifies for Semifinal Match at North and South Amateur Championship

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<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Pinehurst, North Carolina ? The quarterfinal round of the 106th North and South Amateur Championship concluded Friday, leaving senior Brady Schnell one of just four players who will vie for the Champion’s trophy over the weekend.

Schnell’s quarterfinal victory came after impressive play in a 6&5 victory over Matt Harmon of Grand Rapids, Mich. Schnell began by winning the first hole with a birdie three, taking over the match by taking the lead and winning holes five, eight, nine, 10 and 12 for the final tally. Schnell concluded his day by playing through the 13th hole with two birdies and no bogeys.

 

Schnell dominated in all rounds leading to the semifinal, beginning with a 6&5 victory over J.J. Wood of Yuma, Ariz. in the first round. Schnell then beat Matt Savage of Scottsdale, Ariz. with another 6&5 victory in the second round and a 1-up victory over David Holzworth of Chapel Hill, N.C. in the third round.

 

Schnell, who has played in four tournaments this summer prior to the North and South Amateur, was excited at the results that have come from his hard work over the summer.

 

“I’ve been working hard on my swing change that I’ve been making, and it’s just starting to click at the right time,” Schnell said.

 

Schnell led the Huskers’ with a team-lowest stroke average of 72.67 through 39 rounds in his junior season. Schnell’s 2005-06 stroke average brought his career stroke average down to 73.90. Schnell’s highlights included a second-place finish at the Fairway Club Invitational in the fall and another second-place finish at the Ron Moore Invitational in the spring.

 

At the Ron Moore Invitational, Schnell led the Husker squad by firing a school and career-record 64 on the opening 18 holes. Schnell finished with a final score of 203 (64-70-69), beating his previous career-low round by five strokes, when he finished with a 208 (73-65-70) at the Pioneer Golf Classic in 2005.

 

Schnell’s low individual round beat his own previous record of 65 when he shot seven-under par at the 2005 Pioneer Golf Classic.

Head coach Bill Spangler was also pleased at the progress Schnell has made as he prepares to enter his final season at Nebraska.

 

“This is validation of Brady’s hard work this summer,” Spangler said. “For him to play so impressively in a very historic and traditionally rich golf tournament is great for Brady (Schnell), and a sign of things to come for his senior year.”

 

Former Husker Judd Cornell also qualified for match play in the tournament but lost in the second round on a 2&1 to Dusty Smith of The Woodlands, Texas. Cornell just capped his final season at Nebraska with a strong performance and a 73.46 stroke average through 39 rounds, bringing his final career stroke average down to 74.95.

 

Schnell will face George Bryan IV of Chapin, South Carolina in the Semifinal round beginning at 8:10 EST Saturday on the Par 71, 7,248-yard Course No. 2, while the 36-hole championship round will be on Sunday at 7:30 a.m.