Huskers Climb Leaderboard in Second Round

Lincoln - Sophomores Natalie Gleadall and Maddie Sheils enjoyed one of the best days of their young careers, and the Nebraska women's golf team moved up the team leaderboard in the second round of the 2009 Chip-N Club Invitational at Wilderness Ridge Golf Course.

The Huskers, who are searching for their second straight Chip-N Club title at Wilderness Ridge, climbed from fifth to a tie for second in the team standings after two rounds in a tight team race. Fellow Big 12 Conference competitor Missouri held a narrow four-stroke edge over the Huskers and Sacramento State in the team standings, while Kansas, UALR and Kansas State rounded out the top six teams in the 14-team field.

Missouri produced rounds of 299 and 291 to finish at 590 through the first 36 holes on the 6,214-yard, par-72 layout at Wilderness Ridge. Nebraska moved up the team leaderboard by firing the best round of the day with a 290 over the second 18 holes. NU's second round was highlighted by a two-under-par 70 from Gleadall. The sophomore from Stratford, Ontario, Canada heads into Tuesday's final round in a tie for fourth at 144, after opening the day with a 74 in the first round.

JC Stevenson added an even-par 72 in the second round to climb into a tie for 11th at 148. The senior from Grand Island, Neb., opened the day with a 76. Fellow senior Charlotte Wendner also fired a solid second round with a one-over-par 73, after opening the day with a 77. Wendner heads into the final round in a tie for 16th at 150.

Junior Mary Kate Bird gave the Huskers four members of their lineup in the top 20, managing rounds of 77 and 75 to close the day in a tie for 20th at 152. Fellow junior Rachel Hanigan rounded out NU's lineup with a 154 (77-77) in a tie for 30th.

Although she did not play in the Husker lineup, Sheils produced the best day of her career and finds herself in the thick of the individual race. The sophomore from Boise, Idaho, fired back-to-back career-best rounds of 73 to finish the first 36 holes in a tie for sixth at 146. NU true freshman Erin Sharpee also produced a strong debut, shooting an even-par 72 in the second round after opening her collegiate career with an 80 in the first round. Sharpee is tied with Bird for 20th in the individual standings at 152.

The Huskers and the rest of the field will chase North Dakota State's Amy Anderson on the final day of the tournament on Tuesday. Anderson posted the best round of the day with a three-under-par 69, before adding a second-round 72 to finish at 141. She owns a one stroke lead over Sacramento State's Julie Shutler (142) and Kansas' Emily Powers (142).

The 2009 Chip-N Club Invitational concludes with the final 18 holes on Tuesday. The final round begins with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.

2009 Chip-N Club Invitational
Wilderness Ridge Golf Course (Lincoln, Neb.)
Host: University of Nebraska
Par 72 - 6,214 Yards
Sept. 14-15, 2009

Team Standings (Two Rounds)
1. Missouri - 299-291-590
T2. Sacramento State - 300-294-594
T2. Nebraska - 304-290-594
4. Kansas - 301-295-596
5. UALR - 303-306-609
6. Kansas State - 305-305-610
7. Illinois State - 306-307-613
8. Wichita State - 315-306-621
9. Missouri State - 318-304-622
T10. Northern Iowa - 312-319-631
T10. Arkansas State - 315-316-631
12. South Dakota State - 328-312-640
13. North Dakota State - 322-320-642
14. Creighton - 326-319-645

Individual Leaderboard (Two Rounds)
1. Amy Anderson, North Dakota State - 69-72-141
T2. Julie Shuttler, Sacramento State - 70-72-142
T2. Emily Powers, Kansas - 70-72-142
T4. Natalie Gleadall, Nebraska - 74-70-144
T4. Michelle Morgan, Missouri - 72-72-144
T6. Maddie Sheils, Nebraska - 73-73-146
T6. Julie Chen - 74-72-146
T6. Mallory Fraiche, UALR - 71-75-146
T9. Julia Potter, Missouri - 73-74-147
T9. Ahnna Kim, Missouri - 75-72-147

Nebraska Individuals
T4. Natalie Gleadall - 74-70-144
T6. Maddie Sheils - 73-73-146
T11. JC Stevenson - 76-72-148
T16. Charlotte Wendner - 77-73-150
T20. Erin Sharpee - 80-72-152
T20. Mary Kate Bird - 77-75-152
T30. Rachel Hanigan - 77-77-154
T52. Kayla Knopik - 84-76-160
T65. Carolyn Schorgl - 81-82-163