Brown Named Big 12 Golfer of the Month

Lincoln - Nebraska junior Elli Brown captured the first Big 12 Golfer-of-the-Month honor of her career and the conference’s first monthly award of the 2006-07 season, the league office announced on Thursday.

Brown, a native of Meridian, Idaho, finished in the top five individually in each of Nebraska’s first three tournaments to open the 2006 campaign, including a tie for fourth to lead the Huskers to their fourth consecutive Chip-N Club title at Yankee Hill Country Club, Sept. 18-19.

She added a tie for fifth at the Wildcat Fall Invitational in Lexington, Ky., Sept. 30-Oct. 1, in a 15-team tournament field that included seven squads that earned 2006 NCAA Regional berths.

Brown opened the season by finishing fifth at the Badger Invitational in Verona, Wis. Overall, Brown produced a team-leading 76.44 stroke average through Nebraska’s first nine fall rounds.

With three top-five finishes in 2006-07, Brown owns seven career top-10 finishes at Nebraska and 13 career top-25 showings. Her best career finish came with a third-place showing at the 2006 Baja Invitational. She finished 26th at last year’s Big 12 Championships and 79th at the 2006 NCAA Championships.

Nebraska Coach Robin Krapfl said she was excited about Brown’s first Big 12 Conference award.

“It’s a huge honor and well-deserved. She’s had a very solid start to her junior season,” Krapfl said. “I hope it’s a springboard for the rest of the season.”

Brown leads the Huskers to her home state of Idaho for the first time in her collegiate career for the Bronco Invitational in Boise, Oct. 9-10. Krapfl said a large contingent of Idahoans for Nebraska plans to welcome the Huskers to Boise and support the team during the tournament.

“The timing of the honor is great because she is heading home to compete in Boise, and we hope she has a great tournament in front of her family, friends and some great Nebraska fans.”