Huskers Set for Second Straight NCAA Appearance

The Nebraska men's golf team is set for its second consecutive appearance in NCAA regional play this weekend. The Huskers are one of 27 teams who will compete in the NCAA Central Regional Championships at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill.

Play in the 54-hole event will begin on Thursday, May 17, with the second and third rounds set for Friday and Saturday. The top 10 teams from the Central Regional will advance to the NCAA Championships from May 30 to June 2 at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club in Williamsburg, Va. In addition, two individuals not on the 10 qualifying teams will also advance to the NCAA Championships.

Nebraska's appearance at the NCAA Central Regional marks the second straight year the Huskers have advanced to the postseason. A year ago, Nebraska finished 22nd at the Central Regional Championships in Cleveland, Ohio.

This season marks the first time NU has made consecutive postseason appearance since the Huskers made four straight regional appearances from 1996 to 1999. Overall, Nebraska is making its seventh regional appearance since the NCAA switched to a regional format, having also qualified in 1994.

Among its six previous regional appearances, Nebraska advanced to the NCAA Championships in 1998 when the Huskers finished 20th and in 1999, when NU finished a school-best 13th place.

Nebraska solidified its place in the Central Regional with an upper-division finish at the Big 12 Championships, April 23-24 at Prairie Dunes Golf Club in Hutchinson, Kan. The Huskers rallied to a sixth-place finish at the conference meet after sitting in a tie for 11th place after the opening round. The Huskers' final round of 293 was the third-lowest team score on the final day of competition.

The sixth-place showing marked Nebraska's second consecutive upper-division finish at the Big 12 Championships. The Huskers also finished sixth in 2006, marking the first time in a decade NU has posted back-to-back finishes in the upper half at the conference meet.

Nebraska's strong finish to the Big 12 meet gave the Huskers their sixth top-six finish in seven spring tournaments. Overall, Nebraska had three second-place finishes during its 2006-07 season.

The Husker Lineup

Nebraska has relied on a lineup of four seniors and a freshman throughout the majority of the spring season. However, Nebraska will have one lineup shuffle for the Central Regional meet, as sophomore Chris Bruening will replace senior Drew Reynolds in the Nebraska five-man lineup.

Senior Brady Schnell will lead the team into NCAA Regional play after an extremely successful spring season. Schnell posted five top-10 spots in seven tournaments, including a third-place finish at the Big 12 Tournament three weeks ago. Schnell's finish at the Big 12 Championships earned him All-Big 12 honors, the first Husker to earn that honor since a trio of seniors were recognized in 1999.

A graduate of Omaha's Millard West High School, Schnell led the team throughout the spring, and enters NCAA play with a team-leading 72.41 stroke average through 34 rounds. He has a total of eight top-10 finishes in the 2006-07 season, including a victory at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate to cap the fall.

Schnell also has a history of success at Rich Harvest Farms. In 2003, Schnell captured the prestigious Western Amateur on the layout, providing him with momentum heading into his collegiate career. Schnell recently earned another large honor when he was extended a sponsor's exemption to the PGA Tour's John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill., this July.

Senior Ty Capps adjusted to the Division I level in minimal time after transferring from South Mountain Community College two seasons ago. He was a steady performer for the Huskers as a junior, and has posted an outstanding senior season. Capps sailed through the fall, posting three top-15 finishes and two top-10 spots in five tournaments, including a team-best sixth-place finish at the La Tech/Squire Creek Intercollegiate.

Capps continued to excel in the spring, and has posted four top-50 finishes, including two top-20 showings. He owns a 75.10 stroke average through 34 rounds, and is coming off a 38th-place finish at the Big 12 Championships, capped by a final-round 72.

Freshman Jamie Marshall was a key newcomer to the squad this year, holding strong at third for the Huskers with a 75.47 stroke average through 30 rounds. Marshall’s season and career-low round of 70 was shot at the Wichita State Invitational. Marshall posted one top-50 finish in the fall before breaking out in the spring, posting seven top-50 finishes in seven tournaments, including three top-25 finishes. He posted one of the best rounds on the final day of the Big 12 Championships with a 71 to finish in 27th place.

Ryan Lenahan is the third senior on the Husker regional roster. Lenahan owns a 76.56 stroke average and posted three top-30 finishes on the season. Lenahan posted his season-low round of 71 at the Wichita State Invitational, and enters regionals following a 48th-place showing at the Big 12 Championships.

Bruening is a new addition to the Husker regional roster, after winning a qualifier over Reynolds last week. Bruening's only competition of the year came at the Wichita State Invitational, where he posted a 224 total to finish in a tie for 13th, while competing as an individual.

The Regional Field
Nebraska is seeded 22nd in the 27-team field that includes nine teams from the Big 12 Conference, led by second-seeded Oklahoma State, the nation's seventh-ranked team. Alabama is the top seed in the Central Regional and is currently ranked third in the nation.

Individually, the Central Regional includes 2006 NCAA Champion Jonathan Moore of Oklahoma State. He is joined by his teammate Pablo Martin, who recently captured the Big 12 Championships.

The Course
Rich Harvest Farms is located in Sugar Grove, Ill., and was founded and designed by Jerry Rich in 1989. Rich Harvest links - part of the 1,600-acre estate which constitutes Rich Harvest Farms, located just 50 miles west of downtown Chicago - opened to rave reviews in 1999, earning fifth place on Golf Digest's list of "Best New Courses".

Most recently, Rich Harvest Farms was chosen by the LPGA as the site for the 2009 Solheim Cup - the most prestigious team event in women's professional golf. The biennial team match-play event features the best U.S.-born golfers from the LPGA and the best European-born players from the Robe di Kappa Ladies European Tour.

Recapping the Big 12 Championship
Schnell finished third to lead Nebraska to a sixth-place finish at the Big 12 Championships on April 23 and 24 at Prairie Dunes Golf Course in Hutchinson, Kan. Nebraska’s sixth-place finish matched last year’s finish, and also marks the team’s highest finish since a runner-up finish in the 1999 event.

The Huskers finished the first day with a total score of 616 (313-303), and fired a final round of 293 to finish with a total score of 909, moving the team up four spots from their 10th-place, first day standing and marking the third-best score of the day, while also tying for the seventh-best team score of the tournament. The Huskers' 20-stroke improvement from their first round (313) to final round (293) tied for the fourth-best improvement from first to third round in Big 12 history.

Schnell finished with a total score of five-over par 215 (72-71-72), while the Omaha native’s third-place finish marked the first top-10 individual finish by a Husker since 1999. Schnell led the tournament in birdies with 14, while also placing first in the tournament in par-four scoring, finishing even. Schnell was one of 10 individuals named to the Big 12 Tournament team.

Marshall finished with a 228 total (76-81-71) to stand in a tie for 27th individually. Marshall also tied for fourth in the tournament in par-three scoring at just three-over par and tied for seventh in the tournament in pars with 32. Marshall also tied for the final round's sixth-best score with a 71, and moved up 21 spots in the standings in the third round.

Capps was just behind Marshall, finishing with a total of 231 (82-77-72), placing him in a tie for 38th. Capps moved up 13 spots on the final day of competition. Senior Ryan Lenahan was fourth for the Huskers, finishing with a 236 (83-75-78) and placing him in a tie for 48th individually, while Drew Reynolds finished at 251 (88-80-83) leaving him in a tie for 58th place.

Oklahoma State won the tournament with a final score of 866 (290-289-287), claiming its fifth Big 12 title.

Nebraska Big 12 Notes
--Nebraska’s sixth place matched its 2006 finish, its highest since a runner-up finish in the 1999 event.

--Senior Brady Schnell’s third-place finish was the first top-10 individual finish since 1999, when Jamie Rogers finished in a tie for second place. Steve Friesen was tied for fourth and Josh Madden was tied for ninth in the 1999 Big 12 Tournament, where the team also finished second.

--Nebraska’s 20-stroke improvement from its first round (313) to final round (293) tied for the fourth-best improvement from first to third round in Big 12 history.

--Nebraska’s second day score of 293 was the third-best score of the day while also tying for the seventh-best team score of the tournament.

--Nebraska was the only team in the final round to have three golfers post scores of 72 or better.

Nebraska Season in Review
Head Coach Bill Spangler's sixth year has proven to be a breakthrough year, as he led the squad to a sixth-place Big 12 finish and a second straight NCAA appearance.

Nebraska came out swinging during the fall, twice finishing second and closing the fall season with three top-five finishes in just five tournaments. The Huskers snagged a tie for second at the Kansas Invitational, as seniors Ty Capps (73-72-73) and Brady Schnell (71-77-70) both finished with a two-over par 218 in three rounds for a seventh-place tie individually at the par-72, 7,092-yard Alvamar Golf Club in Lawrence, Kan.

The Huskers shot four individual rounds at or under par as a team to finish with a total score of 882 (295-294-293), tying with Iowa State (293-291-298) for their best finish of the fall up to that point.

Nebraska went on to place second at the Herb Wimberley Intercollegiate to close the fall season, as Schnell’s season-low individual score of 206 (67-70-69) was enough to win the Herb Wimberley Intercollegiate and propel the Huskers to match their season-best finish with second-place final at the par-72, 7,074-yard New Mexico State University Golf Course in Las Cruces.

The Huskers finished with a total score of 861 (290-291-280), marking their lowest team total since the Ron Moore Invitational on March 20-21, 2005. The second-place finish marked the Huskers' third top-five finish of the fall season and their second top-three finish.

The Huskers went on to post six top-10 finishes in the spring in just seven tournaments, placing above sixth place just once.

The Huskers placed in the top three twice, beginning with a strong showing at the South Carolina-Aiken tournament, where Drew Reynolds posted a season-low score of 68 in the third and final round to lead the team to a third-place finish at the 6,565-yard, par 71 Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken, S.C. The Huskers posted a team total of 872 (297-293-282), the second-lowest team total through the 2006-07 season.

NU followed that with a second-place finish at the Ron Moore Invitational, Schnell posted a nine-under par total through three rounds to lead team at the Ron Moore Invitational at the par 72, 7,015-yard Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Ariz. The Huskers posted a team total of 848 (281-286-281), marking the lowest team total through the 2006-07 season. As a team, the Huskers posted three rounds that marked spring season lows, as well as a tournament-leading seven eagles. Nebraska additionally led the tournament in par-five scoring at 40-under par and placed fourth in par-four scoring at just 10-over par.

The Huskers finished the spring season by snagging a sixth-place finish for the second year in a row at the 11th Annual Big 12 Championships at the par-70, 6,611-yard Prairie Dunes Golf Course in Hutchinson, Kan. Schnell snagged a third-place individual finish, while the team’s place also marked the team’s highest finish since a runner-up finish in the 1999 event.

The Huskers finished the first day with a total score of 616 (313-303), and fired a second-day final round of 293 to finish with a total score of 909, moving the team up four spots from their 10th-place, first day standing and marking the third-best score of the day, while also tying for the seventh-best team score of the tournament. The Huskers' 20-stroke improvement from their first round (313) to final round (293) tied for the fourth-best improvement from first to third round in Big 12 history.

Four Huskers Earn Academic Honors
The Big 12 Conference named 34 student-athletes to the 2007 Academic All-Big 12 Men’s Golf Team this spring, including four Husker seniors, including three first-team selections.

The men’s golf team boasts four seniors on the team, led by the squad’s three first-team selections, including Ty Capps, a political science major from Highlands Ranch, Colo., Ryan Lenahan, a sociology major from Gross Pointe Shores, Mich., and Brady Schnell, a political science major from Omaha, Neb. Drew Reynolds, a communication studies major from Lee’s Summit, Mo., was additionally chosen as second-team.

Nominated by each institution’s director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the academic all-league men’s golf squad consisted of 30 first team members combined with four on the second team. First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of his team’s scheduled contests. Freshman and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence.

Husker Individual Capsules
Brady Schnell...Sr...Omaha, Neb. (Millard West)
2006-07...Schnell has led Nebraska throughout the past two seasons and is playing the best golf of his career heading into NCAA Regional competition...team-leading 72.41 stroke average for the season, including eight top-10 finishes in 12 tournaments...has finished in top 10 in each of last four tournaments, including a third-place finish at Big 12 Championships....14 of 21 rounds during spring competition have been 72 or below, including three rounds in the 60s...five total rounds in the 60s during senior season...Nebraska career record holder for an individual round with a 64 during his junior season.
Last Year at the NCAA Regional...finished in a tie for 114th with a three-round total of 234...Career Stroke Average...73.66...Low Round...64, 2006 Ron Moore Invitational (school record)

Ty Capps...Sr...Highlands Ranch, Colo. (ThunderRidge)
2006-07...Capps has been a mainstay in the Nebraska lineup the entire season, starting all 12 tournaments...owns the second-best stroke average on the team at 75.26 strokes per round...owns five top-20 finishes during the season, including two during the spring season...19 of his 34 rounds this season have been 75 or lower, including a pair of rounds in the 60s...finished 38th at the Big 12 Championships on the strength of a final-round 72.
Last Year at the NCAA Regional...finished 131st with a 241 total...Career Stroke Average...75.19...Low Round...67, 2006 Wyoming Cowboy Classic

Ryan Lenahan...Sr....Gross Pointe Shores, Mich. (Gross Pointe North)
2006-07...Lenahan is one of three Huskers in the starting five for the entire season...fifth-year senior who has made steady progress throughout his NU career...owns a 76.56 stroke average over 34 rounds during the season...three top-30 finishes during the season and 17 rounds of 75 or below...tied for 48th at the Big 12 Championships.
Last Year at the NCAA Regional...posted a 235 total to tie for 120th position...Career Stroke Average...76.31...Low Round...69, twice

Jamie Marshall...Fr...Castle Rock, Colo. (Regis Jesuit)
2006-07...True freshman has emerged as a reliable performer for Coach Bill Spangler...has been in the starting lineup for 10 of 12 tournaments this season...owns the third-best stroke average among NU regulars at 75.47 strokes per round...has been in the top 30 in five of seven spring tournaments, including 27th place at Big 12 Championships, where he posted a final-round 71...16 of 21 spring rounds have been 75 or lower.
Career Stroke Average...75.47...Low Round...70, Wichita State Invitational

Chris Bruening...So...Norfolk, Neb.
2006-07...Bruening played in just one tournament this year, unattached at Wichita State, but won a qualifier for Nebraska's fifth regional spot...posted a 224 total at the Wichita State meet to finish in a tie for 13th place...saw significant action as a true freshman in 2004-05, before redshirting last season.
Career Stroke Average...76.41...Low Round...70, 2007 Wichita State Invitational