Huskers in Contention at Wolfdancer

Lost Pines, Texas - The Nebraska women's golf team closed the first round in a tie for fifth place in a talent-laden 16-team field at The Challenge at Wolfdancer on Sunday. Second-round action was suspended by darkness and will conclude Monday morning, before the tournament wraps up with the third and final round later Monday.

Junior Charlotte Wendner, who has been out of the Nebraska lineup for the past two tournaments, returned on Sunday and led the Huskers with an opening-round 74. Wendner closed the first 18 holes on the par-72, 6,141-yard layout in a tie for third place.

Fellow junior Kate White added a solid round of 79 to open the tournament to sit in a tie for 20th. Sophomore Rachel Hanigan posted an 81 to manage a tie for 33rd, while junior JC Stevenson struggled with an 84 to settle for a tie for 57th. Nebraska's top four golfers helped the Huskers to a team total of 318 in the opening round, 12 strokes behind the leaders from Idaho (306).

Colorado was just one shot back of Idaho at 307, while Michigan was eight strokes off the lead at 314. Iowa State entered the second round in fourth at 316, while the hosts from Texas State and the College of Charleston matched NU's first-round team total at 318.

Iowa State's Pennapa Pulsawath led the 90-player individual field with an even-par 72, one shot ahead of Idaho's Teo Poplawski at 73. Wendner and Michigan's Katelin Davis were just two strokes off the pace at 74.

Nebraska will close its fall tournament schedule on Monday with the completion of the second and third rounds at The Challenge at Wolfdancer.

The Challenge at Wolfdancer
Nov. 2-3, 2008
Lost Pines, Texas
Par 72, 6,141 Yards

Team Standings (Through One Round)
1. Idaho - 306
2. Colorado - 307
3. Michigan - 314
4. Iowa State - 316
T5. Nebraska - 318
T5. College of Charleston - 318
T5. Texas State - 318
8. Missouri State - 322
9. Northwestern -323
10. Texas Tech -324
T11. Iowa - 327
T11. Baylor - 327
13. Kansas State - 330
14. Illinois - 331
15. McNeese State - 340
16. SMU - 343

Individual Leaderboard (Through First Round)
1. Pennapa Pulsawath, Iowa State - 72
2. Teo Poplawski, Idaho - 73
T3. Charlotte Wendner, Nebraska - 74
T3. Katelin Davis, Michigan - 74
T5. Emily Talley, Colorado - 75
T5. Milena Savich, Michigan - 75
T5. Ashley Bauer, Michigan - 75
T8. Emily Childs, Colorado - 76
T8. Kayla Mortellaro, Idaho - 76
T8. Annika Karlsson, Idano - 76
T8. Victoria Stefansen, Iowa State - 76
T8. Megan Dowdy, Texas Tech - 76
T8. Sarah Dodson, SMU - 76

Nebraska Golfers
T3. Charlotte Wender - 73
T20. Kate White - 79
T33. Rachel Hanigan - 81
T57. JC Stevenson - 84
T66. Maddie Sheils - 85 (unattached individual)
T76. Natalie Gleadall - 88