Tucson, Ariz. - Mary Kate Bird produced her second top-10 finish in Nebraska's last three tournaments to help the Husker women's golf team to a ninth-place team finish at the 19-team Mountain View Collegiate on Sunday.
Bird, a sophomore from Kansas City, Mo., managed a final-round 73 to finish with a three-round total of 217. With Bird leading the way, NU produced a final-round 309 to finish with its best team score of the spring season at 901. In a tournament field that featured seven Big 12 Conference teams, the Huskers finished second among the league contingent, trailing only fifth-place Missouri's 885.
Bird finished eight strokes off the pace set by individual medalist Erica Moston from San Jose State, who fired a seven-under-par 209 to lead the Spartans to the team title. SJSU notched a final-round 295 to finish with a three-round score of 866, matching the 2007 Huskers for the best 54-hole score in Mountain View Collegiate tournament history. UNLV finished nine strokes back in the team race in second place at 875, while Louisville took third at 879. Indiana and Missouri fired Sunday's best rounds with matching scores of 289, as the Hoosiers took fourth at 884, one shot ahead of the Tigers.
Louisville's Cindy LaCrosse took second at 211, while Indiana's Laura Nochta and Anita Gahir finished in a tie for third at 213.
Nebraska junior Charlotte Wendner managed a 79 on Sunday to finish in a tie for 38th at 227, one stroke ahead of fellow junior JC Stevenson who fired a final-round 75 to finish in a tie for 44th at 228. Freshman Natalie Gleadall settled for an 81 in the third round to tie for 50th at 229, while sophomore Rachel Hanigan managed an 83 to close in a tie for 94th at 246.
The Huskers return to action April 18-19 when they travel to Columbus, Ohio, for the Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational. The event will mark NU's last regular-season tournament before the Big 12 Championships in Lubbock, Texas, April 24-26.
Mountain View Collegiate
March 28-29, 2009
Mountain View Golf Course
Tucson, Ariz. (Par 72, 6,263 Yards)
Final Team Standings
1. San Jose State - 284-287-295-866
2. UNLV - 291-287-297-875
3. Louisville - 292-295-292-879
4. Indiana - 297-298-289-884
5. Missouri - 301-295-289-885
6. Northwestern - 297-301-292-890
7. Colorado State - 297-294-305-896
8. Michigan - 302-299-297-898
9. Nebraska - 290-302-309-901
10. Iowa State - 308-298-297-903
T11. Colorado - 297-301-307-905
T11. Oregon State -298-310-297-905
13. Fresno State - 303-303-302-908
T14. Kansas State - 300-314-295-909
T14. Texas Tech - 311-299-299-909
T14. Washington State -307-313-289-909
17. Oklahoma - 305-299-307-911
18. Arizona - 307-307-312-926
19. Boise State - 308-317-317-942
Final Individual Results
1. Erica Moston, San Jose State - 72-68-69-209
2. Cindy LaCrosse, Louisville - 71-69-71-211
T3. Laura Nochta, Indiana - 72-71-70-213
T3. Anita Gahir, Indiana - 71-74-68-213
T5. Ashley Bauer, Michigan - 70-72-73-215
T5. Jennifer Hong, Northwestern - 70-75-70-215
T5. Therese Koelbaek, UNLV - 68-73-74-215
T5. Katrin Delen Briones, San Jose State - 73-71-71-215
T9. Mary Kate Bird, Nebraska - 68-76-73-217
T9. Amanda Wilson, Arizona - 71-70-76-217
T9. Kristen Schelling, UNLV - 74-69-74-217
Nebraska Individuals
T9. Mary Kate Bird - 68-76-73-217
T38. Charlotte Wendner - 73-75-79-227
T44. JC Stevenson - 74-78-76-228
T50. Natalie Gleadall - 75-73-81-229
T94. Rachel Hanigan - 81-82-83-246