Lincoln - Five Huskers finished in the top 15 as the Nebraska women's golf team claimed second place at the 2009 Chip-N Club Invitational at Wilderness Ridge Golf Course on Tuesday afternoon.
Missouri, which entered the final round with a four-stroke lead over the Huskers and Sacramento State in the team standings, scorched the 6,214-yard, par-72 layout at Wilderness Ridge for a team-best 288 in the final round to notch an 11-stroke win over Nebraska. The Tigers posted a three-round team score of 878, while NU added a 295 on Tuesday to finish at 889. Nebraska finished six strokes ahead of third place Kansas (895), while UALR finished fourth at 900.
The Huskers had shaved the Tiger lead to just two strokes midway through the final round, before MU's top three of Julia Potter, Michelle Morgan and Ahnna Kim carried the Tigers to victory. Potter sizzled for a 32 on the back nine, while Kim added a 34 and Morgan contributed a 35 to hold off the Huskers' final-round charge. Potter, Morgan and Kim all finished in a three-way tie for fourth individually at 217.
North Dakota State's Amy Anderson, a true freshman playing in her first full collegiate tournament, ran away with the individual title with a six-under-par 210. Anderson, who opened the tournament with a 69 on Monday, added another 69 on Tuesday after firing an even-par 72 in the second round. She finished three shots ahead of Emily Powers from Kansas, who shot a one-under 71 on Tuesday to close the 54-hole event at 213. Sacramento State's Julie Shutler took third at 214 with a final-round 72.
Senior JC Stevenson finished as Nebraska's top individual in eighth place after a final-round 72 to close at 220. Stevenson, a Grand Island, Neb., native, finished one shot ahead of sophomore Natalie Gleadall, who managed a 77 on Tuesday to close in a tie for ninth at 221.
Junior Mary Kate Bird posted Nebraska's best round of the day with a one-under-par 71 to close in a tie for 12th at 223, while fellow junior Rachel Hanigan closed Nebraska's team scoring with a 75 to finish in a tie for 27th at 229. NU senior Charlotte Wendner settled for an 80 to close in a tie for 30th at 230.
Husker individuals Maddie Sheils and Erin Sharpee added top-15 finishes in the 83-player field. Sharpee, a true freshman from Green Bay, Wis., posted an even-par 72 for the second straight day to close her first collegiate tournament at 224. Sheils, a sophomore from Boise, Idaho, matched Sharpee's 224 in a tie for 15th after a final-round 78. Sophomores Carolyn Schorgl (73) and Kayla Knopik (74) also added strong rounds to close Nebraska's season-opening tournament.
Although Nebraska was unable to repeat as Chip-N Club Tournament champions, Coach Robin Krapfl said she was pleased with her team's performance.
"I thought the tournament really showed the depth that our team has," Krapfl said. "I was excited to see some of our younger players step up and perform. It was a great experience, and I think it will carry over to the rest of the year. Missouri just played a great round and a great tournament. We were gaining ground on them early in the round, but then they stepped up and played some fabulous golf down the stretch to win the tournament."
Nebraska returns to action next week at the Ron Moore Intercollegiate in Highlands Ranch, Colo. The three-day tournament runs Monday, Sept. 21, through Wednesday, Sept. 23.
Chip-N Club Invitational
Wilderness Ridge Golf Course - Lincoln, Neb.
Sept. 14-15, 2009
Par 72, 6,214 yards
Final Team Results
1. Missouri - 299-291-288-878
2. Nebraska - 304-290-295-889
3. Kansas - 301-295-299-895
4. UALR - 303-306-291-900
5. Sacramento State - 300-294-310-904
6. Illinois State - 306-307-296-909
7. Kansas State - 305-305-306-916
8. Wichita State - 315-306-304-925
9. Missouri State - 318-304-305-927
10. Arkansas State - 315-316-306-937
11. Northern Iowa - 312-319-316-947
12. North Dakota State - 322-320-314-956
13. South Dakota State - 328-312-319-959
14. Creighton - 326-319-332-977
Final Individual Results
1. Amy Anderson, North Dakota State - 69-72-69-210
2. Emily Powers, Kansas - 70-72-71-213
3. Julie Shutler, Sacramento State - 70-72-72-214
T4. Julia Potter, Missouri - 73-74-70-217
T4. Michelle Morgan, Missouri - 72-72-73-217
T4. Ahnna Kim, Missouri - 75-72-70-217
7. Mallory Fraiche, UALR - 71-75-72-218
8. JC Stevenson, Nebraska - 76-72-72-220
T9. Natalie Gleadall, Nebraska - 74-70-77-221
T9. Stacey Miller, Illinois State - 73-76-72-221
T9. Laura Harris, Illinois State - 76-75-70-221
T12. Mary Kate Bird, Nebraska - 77-75-71-223
T12. Jennifer Welch, Arkansas State - 72-77-74-223
T12. Justine Chen, Sacramento State - 74-72-77-223
T15. Erin Sharpee, Nebraska - 80-72-72-224
T15. Maddie Sheils, Nebraska - 73-73-78-224
Nebraska Individuals
8. JC Stevenson - 76-72-72-220
T9. Natalie Gleadall - 74-70-77-221
T12. Mary Kate Bird - 77-75-71-223
T15. Erin Sharpee - 80-72-72-224
T15. Maddie Sheils - 73-73-78-224
T27. Rachel Hanigan - 77-77-75-229
T30. Charlotte Wendner - 77-73-80-230
T41. Kayla Knopik - 84-76-74-234
T45. Carolyn Schorgl - 81-82-73-236