Huskers Looking For First Win of Season in Missouri

Columbia, Mo. - The Nebraska men's golf team travels to Columbia, Mo., to defend their title at the Columbia Orthopedic Group Mizzou Intercollegiate on Monday and Tuesday, while also looking for their first team victory of the season.

Last year the Huskers fired a 54-hole total of 857, outlasting Kansas State by one stroke. NU was led by then-senior Brandon Crick, who shot a 5-under-par 211 for the tournament, which tied for first before falling to Kansas State's Curtis Yonke in a playoff.

This year the Huskers are seeking their first team title at the Mizzou Intercollegiate, playing in their 10th tournament of the 2010-11 campaign. NU's best finish this season is second place, achieved at the Kansas Invitational in September. The Huskers have three additional top-five finishes, which include third place at the Fairway Club Invitational, Sept. 13-14, third at the D.A. Weibring Intercollegiate, Oct. 2-3 and fourth at the Jackrabbit Invitational, March 14-15.

The Huskers will be joined by Big 12 foes Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri along with in-state rival Creighton in the 15-team field at the Mizzou Intercollegiate. The Club at Old Hawthorne, a par-72, 7,221-yard layout, will host the two-day, 54-hole tournament. The opening 18 holes begin Monday at 8 a.m. (Central Time) with a shotgun start, while the second round will immediately follow. The final round tees off Tuesday, with an 8 a.m. shotgun.

Brett Nymeyer, coming off a tie for 11th place finish at the Florida Atlantic Spring Break Championship, will play in the No. 1 spot for the Huskers. The senior has started for Nebraska in every tournament this season and has two consecutive top-15 finishes.

Playing in the No. 2 position for the Huskers is Andrew Wyatt. The senior has four straight top-25 results, including a tie for ninth at the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate. Wyatt is even-par in his last nine rounds for the Huskers and leads the team with a 72.25 stroke average for the spring season. In last year's Mizzou Intercollegiate, Wyatt tied for ninth individually.

Neil Dufford will represent the No. 3 player for the Huskers when he tees it up in Missouri. The sophomore is making his seventh start for NU this season, which includes all five events this spring. Dufford finished tied for 24th in Florida, March 25-27, amassing a 4-over-par 220 total for three rounds.

Lincoln, Neb., native Mike Coatman will play in the No. 4 spot for the Huskers on Monday and Tuesday. The senior, who will be making his ninth start this season, tied for 36th in Florida over spring break. In last year's Mizzou Intercollegiate, Coatman tied for 15th overall.

Scott Willman will represent the No. 5 player for the Huskers, coming off a tie for 48th in Florida. The junior has the team's second-best season stroke average, with 74.11 per round. Willman will make his 10th start of the season for the Huskers.

Check Huskers.com for day-by-day recaps following Monday and Tuesday's action at the Mizzou Intercollegiate.

Columbia Orthopedic Group Mizzou Intercollegiate
Host: University of Missouri
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Course: The Club at Old Hawthorne
Par 72 - 7,221 yards
Tee Time (All Times Central):
Monday, April 4 (36) - 8 a.m.
Tuesday, April 5 (18) - 8 a.m.

Nebraska Lineup
No. 1 - Brett Nymeyer, Sr.
No. 2 - Andrew Wyatt, Sr.
No. 3 - Neil Dufford, So.
No. 4 - Mike Coatman, Sr.
No. 5 - Scott Willman, Jr.

Mizzou Intercollegiate Field (15 Teams): Ball State, Belmont, Creighton, Iowa State, IUPUI, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Oral Roberts, St. Mary's, South Dakota State and Wyoming.