Bird Leads Huskers at UNLV

Boulder City, Nev. - Mary Kate Bird fired a 73, but the Nebraska women's golf team settled for a 314 in the opening round at the UNLV Spring Invitational on Monday.

Bird, a senior from Kansas City, Mo., closed the first round on the Boulder Creek Golf Course in Boulder City, Nev., in a tie for 21st with her one-over-par score on the 6,244-yard layout.

While Bird played well to stay in contention in the 15-team field, junior Kayla Knopik was the only other Husker to break 80 on the afternoon. Knopik, a Papillion, Neb., native managed a 77 to sit in a tie for 43rd.

Madeleine Sheils and Nevada native Katelyn Wright settled for rounds of 81 to tie for 68th, while Steffi Neisen shot an 83 (T76th) and Katie Keiser managed an 84 (T79th).

Nebraska's 314 put the Huskers in last place in the 15-team field. BYU closed the first round in first place with an eight-under-par 280, led by Kelsey Vines' six-under-par 66. Overall, 13 of the 86 golfers in the field shot rounds better than par in the opening round.

The tournament continues with the second round on Tuesday with live scoring available on GolfStat.com.