Columbia, Mo. - Kayla Knopik produced a career-best three-round total of 229 by firing a season-best 74 to lead the Nebraska women's golf team in the final round of the Johnie Imes Invitational on Tuesday.
Knopik, a junior from Papillion, Neb., led the Huskers at the 15-team tournament by tying for 36th with a three-round total of 229, one shot better than her previous career-best tournament total of 230 that she produced last season at the BYU Entrada Classic. Knopik, who has opened the season with eight consecutive rounds better than 80, managed solid rounds of 78, 77 and 74 on the par-72, 6,204-yard layout at The Club at Old Hawthorne.
"Kayla played solid golf in all three rounds," Nebraska Coach Robin Krapfl said. "I think she was happy with the way she played but not necessarily happy with the way she scored because she actually could have put up even better numbers. That is pretty encouraging because that was a challenging golf course."
Madeleine Sheils added a final-round 74 of her own to help the Huskers shoot a 309 team score on Tuesday, their best round of the 54-hole event. The junior from Boise, Idaho, closed the tournament in a tie for 45th (84-74-74-232).
"Maddie bounced back well after a tough opening round," Krapfl said. "I think she may have put a little too much pressure on herself after we found out that Mary Kate Bird wasn't going to be able to play. After the first round she relaxed and just played, so I think that experience will help us down the road as well."
Bird, a senior from Kansas City, Mo., Nebraska's most experienced golfer, missed the tournament because of illness after traveling with the team to Missouri. She was scratched from the lineup on Sunday and replaced with Remy Molyneux, who made her first career start. Molyneux, a true freshman from Thousand Oaks, Calif., tied for 78th with a 246, including an 82 on Tuesday.
Junior Carolyn Schorgl managed an 80 on Tuesday to close in 81st at 248, while freshman Steffi Neisen added an 81 to conclude the tournament in a tie for 64th at 238.
Oklahoma State captured the team title with one-under-par 863 through three rounds. The Cowgirls won the crown by 15 strokes over both Colorado and Oklahoma. The Buffaloes and Sooners tied at 878. Nebraska finished 15th at 943.
Cowgirls Courtney McKim and Victoria Park shared medalist honors by firing four-under-par scores of 212. Park's tournament included a final-round 65 on Tuesday. Oklahoma's Ellen Mueller (213) and Colorado's Jessica Wallace (213) tied for third.
Nebraska returns to action next week at the Tulsa Invitational. The three-day tournament begins on Monday, Oct. 11 and concludes on Wednesday, Oct. 13. The Huskers will then take more than two weeks off before wrapping up the fall portion of their 2010-11 schedule at the Alamo Invitational in San Antonio, Texas, Oct. 31-Nov. 2.
Johnie Imes Invitational
The Club at Old Hawthorne (Columbia, Mo.)
Par 72, 6,204 Yards
Oct. 4-5, 2010
Final Team Standings
1. Oklahoma State - 293-286-284-863
T2. Colorado - 298-289-291-878
T2. Oklahoma - 292-296-290-878
4. Florida International - 304-289-292-885
5. Wisconsin - 297-304-294-895
6. UALR - 309-295-299-903
7. Kansas State - 301-298-305-904
8. Kansas - 306-302-303-911
9. Texas State - 307-297-309-913
10. Baylor - 306-301-310-917
11. Princeton - 300-311-308-919
T12. Missouri State - 302-308-312-922
T12. Illinois State - 320-302-300-922
14. Missouri - 315-313-309-937
15. Nebraska - 320-314-309-943
Final Individual Standings
T1. Courtney McKim, Oklahoma State - 73-68-71-212
T1. Victoria Park, Oklahoma State - 72-75-65-212
T3. Ellen Mueller, Oklahoma - 73-71-69-213
T3. Jessica Wallace, Colorado - 72-69-72-213
5. Katie Mundy, Florida International - 74-71-69-214
6. Kelly Shon, Princeton - 70-70-76-216
7. Emily Talley, Colorado - 75-71-71-217
8. Lindsay Danielson, Wisconsin - 72-75-72-219
T9. Kristin Coleman, Colorado - 73-74-73-220
T9. Hillary Wood, Oklahoma State - 72-72-76-220
T9. Catherine Dolan, Missouri State - 73-72-75-220
Nebraska Individuals
T36. Kayla Knopik - 78-77-74-229
T45. Madeleine Sheils - 84-74-74-232
T64. Steffi Neisen - 78-79-81-238
T78. Remy Molyneux - 80-84-82-246
81. Carolyn Schorgl - 84-84-80-248