Peoria, Ariz. - Katelyn Wright finished off the best tournament of her collegiate career with a career-best 71 in the final round to lead the Nebraska women's golf team at the Westbrook Invitational in Peoria, Ariz.
Wright's career-best round allowed her to finish with a career-best tournament score of 218 (73-74-71) and close in 15th place. Wright shattered her previous career-best 54-hole tournament score, which came with a 228 at the 2010 Alamo Invitational. Her low round surpassed the 72 she shot at the 2011 Alamo Invite.
With the sophomore from Incline Village, Nev., leading the way, the Huskers climbed two spots on the team leaderboard on the final day of the tournament to finish in seventh place. Nebraska closed the two-day event on the Vistas Course at the Westbrook Village Golf Club with a season-best three-round total of 882.
Wright wasn't the only Husker to produce a career-best tournament score at the 12-team event hosted by the University of Wisconsin. NU freshman Shelby Martinek, a native of Tempe, Ariz., fired a one-over-par 73 to close at 221 in a tie for 21st place. Martinek's three-round total shattered her previous tournament best by nine strokes, which she set with a 230 at the 2011 Hoosier Invitational.
Senior Madeleine Sheils added a 73 of her own to match Martinek in a tie for 21st at 221. Sophomore Steffi Neisen also pitched in a 73 to finish at 225 in a tie for 40th. Nebraska's Tuesday total of 290 marked the Huskers' second-best round of the season, trailing only a second-round 280 at the 2011 Alamo Invite.
Senior Kayla Knopik rounded out the Husker top five with a final-round 75 to close in a tie for 49th at 228. Fellow senior Katie Keiser added a tie for 61st after shooting a season-best 76 on Tuesday to close with a season-best 234.
Illinois captured the team title with a three-round score of 853 on the 6,176-yard par 72 layout of the Vistas Course. The Fighting Illini were led by individual medalist Nora Lucas, who scorched the course for an 11-under-par 205 over three rounds.
Texas Tech finished second in the team race at 856, while Red Raiders Gabriella Dominguez and Kimberly Kaufman tied for second with nine-under-par 209's.
Nebraska returns to action March 19-20, when the Huskers travel to the BYU Entrada Classic in St. George, Utah.
Westbrook Spring Invitational
Peoria, Ariz.
Vistas Course - Westbrook Village Golf Club
Par 72, 6,176 Yards
Feb. 26-27
Final Team Standings
1. Illinois - 288-282-283-853
2. Texas Tech - 293-279-284-856
3. Washington State - 288-291-287-866
4. Kansas State - 297-289-288-874
T5. Iowa - 290-294-295-879
T5. Indiana - 287-294-298-879
7. Nebraska - 295-297-290-882
8. Wisconsin - 295-296-292-883
9. Eastern Michigan - 297-293-294-884
10. Idaho - 294-298-293-885
11. Colorado State - 300-298-302-900
12. UTEP - 301-296-310-907
Final Individual Standings
1. Nora Lucas, Illinois - 70-67-68-205
T2. Gabriella Dominguez, Texas Tech - 71-66-70-207
T2. Kimberly Kaufman, Texas Tech - 74-66-67-207
4. Hailey Koschmann, Illinois - 69-69-72-210
5. Kristen Rue, Washington State - 70-69-72-211
6. Alexis Nelson, Wisconsin - 68-72-73-213
T7. Kristen Allard, Washington State - 70-71-73-214
T7. Kristtini Cain, Indiana - 69-71-74-214
T7. Gianna Misenhelter, Kansas State - 73-71-70-214
10. Kayla Mortellaro, Idaho - 72-73-70-215
Nebraska Individuals
15. Katelyn Wright - 73-74-71-218
T21. Madeleine Sheils - 74-74-73-221
T21. Shelby Martinek - 76-72-73-221
T40. Steffi Neisen - 72-80-73-225
T49. Kayla Knopik - 76-77-75-228
*T62. Katie Keiser - 78-80-76-234
*playing as an individual outside Nebraska's lineup