Minneapolis - Sophomore Jordan Chael tied for 30th individually to help the Nebraska women's golf team to a 12th-place finish at the 14-team Minnesota Invitational at the Minikahda Club on Tuesday.
Chael, a sophomore from Overland Park, Kan., was Nebraska's top finisher at the Huskers' second straight tournament to open the season. She produced a three-round total of 230 (77-75-78), while the Huskers finished at 929 (312-309-308).
True freshman Audrey Judd was Nebraska's No. 2 finisher in Minnesota, closing the 54-hole event at 233 (78-76-79) in 45th place. Judd finished one stroke ahead of Husker junior Cassie Deeg, who managed a three-round score of 234 (78-80-76) to finish 46th.
Morgan Smejkal put four Huskers in the top 50 in the 75-player field with a 237 (84-78-75) to tie for 50th. The junior from Columbus, Neb., produced NU's best individual effort of the final round with a three-over-par 75 on the 6,119-yard layout at Minikahda.
Sophomore Sarah Pravecek rounded out the Husker contingent in Minnesota in a tie for 71st at 246 (79-84-83).
East Carolina ran away with the team title with an impressive three-round total of 879. The Pirates fired rounds of 294, 287 and 298 to defeat runner-up Colorado (900) by 21 strokes. Kansas finished third at 905.
ECU's Frida Gustafsson Spang dominated the field with a nine-under-par 207 over 54 holes. She won medalist honors with an eight-stroke victory over Minnesota's Anna Laorr (215). Bertine Strauss from Texas, Martina Edberg from Cal State Fullerton and Sabrine Garrison from Minnesota all tied for third at 220, 13 strokes back of Gustafsson.
Nebraska continues its fall campaign next week when the Huskers travel to Vail, Colo., for the GolfWeek Conference Challenge, Sept. 22-24.
Minnesota Invitational
Sept. 15-16, 2014
Minikahda Golf Club (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Par 72, 6,119 Yards
Final Team Standings
1. East Carolina - 294-287-298-879
2. Colorado - 309-297-294-900
3. Kansas - 302-303-300-905
T4. Texas - 305-301-301-907
T4. Georgia Regents-Augusta - 300-301-306-907
6. Purdue - 308-292-310-910
7. Minnesota - 311-299-302-912
8. Kent State - 301-307-306-914
9. SMU - 307-305-306-918
10. Illinois - 319-293-308-92011. Fresno State - 311-313-300-924
12. Nebraska - 312-309-308-929
13. Cal State Fullerton - 309-308-314-931
14. Texas State - 314-299-319-932
Final Individual Standings
1. Frida Gustafsson Spang, East Carolina - 69-66-72-207 (-9)
2. Anna Laorr, Minnesota - 70-71-74-215 (-1)
T3. Bertine Strauss, Texas - 70-76-74-220 (+4)
T3. Martina Edberg, CS Fullerton - 74-72-74 (+4)
T3. Sabrine Garrison, Minnesota - 70-74-76-220 (+4)
T6. Celia Kuenster, Minnesota - 74-75-72-221 (+5)
T6. Gabby DiMarco, Kansas - 71-74-76-221 (+5)
T8. Esther Lee, Colorado - 75-76-71-222 (+6)
T8. Anna Appert Lund, Purdue - 71-74-77-222 (+6)
10. Lisa Pettersson, East Carolina - 75-75-74-224 (+8)
Nebraska Individuals
T30. Jordan Chael - 77-75-78-230
45. Audrey Judd - 78-76-79-233
46. Cassie Deeg - 78-80-76-234
T50. Morgan Smejkal - 84-78-75-237
T71. Sarah Pravecek - 79-84-83-246