Knopik Leads Huskers in Missouri

Columbia, Mo. - Kayla Knopik produced rounds of 78 and 77 to lead the Nebraska women's golf team through the first two rounds at the Johnie Imes Invitational at The Club at Old Hawthorne on Monday.

Knopik, a junior from Papillion, Neb., closed the first 36 holes in a tie for 49th in the 15-team field at Missouri. Her two-round total of 156 was two shots in front of freshman teammate Steffi Neisen, who managed rounds of 78 and 79 to close at 157 in a tie for 55th.

Madeleine Sheils, who finished in a tie for third at last week's Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational, struggled with an opening-round 84, before bouncing back with NU's best round of the day with a second-round 74. The junior from Boise, Idaho, closed the day at 158 in a tie for 59th.

The Huskers were forced to play without their lone senior, Mary Kate Bird, who made the trip to Missouri but was struck by illness on Sunday. Bird, Nebraska's most experienced golfer, was replaced in the lineup by true freshman Remy Molyneux, who managed rounds of 80 and 84 to sit in a tie for 78th at 164.

Junior Carolyn Schorgl rounded out NU's contingent with a pair of 84s in a tie for 80th at 168.

Nebraska heads into the final round in 15th place at 638, while Oklahoma State leads the talented field at 579 (293-286). Colorado closed the day eight shots back of the Cowgirls at 587, while Oklahoma is just one shot back of the Buffaloes at 588.

Princeton's Kelly Shon sits atop the individual leaderboard at 140 after a pair of two-under-par 70s on the par-72, 6,204-yard layout at Old Hawthorne. Shon owns a narrow one-shot edge over Oklahoma State's Courtney McKim (73-68-141) and Colorado's Jessica Wallace (72-69-141).

Nebraska concludes the Johnie Imes Invitational with the final 18 holes on Tuesday with a shotgun start beginning at 8 a.m.

Johnie Imes Invitational
The Club at Old Hawthorne (Columbia, Mo.)
Par 72, 6,204 Yards
Monday, Oct. 4, 2010

Team Standings (Through Two Rounds)
1. Oklahoma State - 293-286-579
2. Colorado - 298-289-587
3. Oklahoma - 292-296-588
4. Florida International - 304-289-593
5. Kansas State - 301-298-599
6. Wisconsin - 297-304-601
T7. UALR - 309-295-604
T7. Texas State - 307-297-604
9. Baylor - 306-301-607
10. Kansas - 306-302-608
11. Missouri State - 302-308-610
12. Princeton - 300-311-611
13. Illinois State - 320-302-622
14. Missouri - 315-313-628
15. Nebraska - 320-314-634

Individual Standings (Through Two Rounds)
1. Kelly Shon, Princeton - 70-70-140
T2. Courtney McKim, Oklahoma State - 73-68-141
T2. Jessica Wallace, Colorado - 72-69-141
T4. Ellen Mueller, Oklahoma - 73-71-144
T4. Hillary Wood, Oklahoma State - 72-72-144
T6. Catherine Dolan, Missouri State - 73-72-145
T6. Gianna Misenhelter, Kansas State - 72-73-145
T6. Katie Mundy, Florida International - 74-71-145
T9. Chirapat Jao-Javanil, Oklahoma - 72-74-146
T9. Emily Talley, Colorado - 75-71-146

Nebraska Individuals
T49. Kayla Knopik - 78-77-155
T55. Steffi Neisen - 78-79-157
T59. Madeleine Sheils - 84-74-158
T78. Remy Molyneux - 80-84-164
T80. Carolyn Schorgl - 84-84-168