Huskers in Hunt at Chip-N Club

Lincoln - Cassie Deeg and Morgan Smejkal both produced strong opening days to lead the Nebraska women's golf team to second place in the team standings through two rounds of the Chip-N Club Invitational at the Country Club of Lincoln.

Deeg and Smejkal head into Tuesday's final round in a tie for seventh place in the individual standings with 36-hole totals of 145. Deeg drained the biggest shot of the day with her hole-in-one on the 159-yard, par-3 10th hole in the second round. The senior from Hugo, Minn., who won medalist honors at the 2013 Chip-N Club Invitational, will take aim at her third straight top-five finish at the Chip-N Club, after tying for fourth last season.

Smejkal, a senior from Columbus, Neb., opened the tournament with an even-par 72, before adding a 73 in the second round. Smejkal will shoot for her first career top-10 finish as a collegian, when the players tee off with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. on the 6,105-yard layout at the Country Club of Lincoln.

Audrey Judd is also in the hunt for a top-10 individual finish for the Huskers, entering the final round in a tie for 13th at 148.  The sophomore from Olathe, Kan., capped her day with a career-best 72 in the second round to help the Huskers.

Senior Cassidy Stelzmiller and junior Sarah Pravecek each added 75s in the second round, as the Huskers notched a season-best 292 as a team. Pravecek enters the final 18 holes tied for 32nd at 155 in the 75-player field, while Stelzmiller is tied for 39th at 157.

The Big Red, who managed an opening-round 301 to enter the final day of the tournament at 593, trail only Notre Dame in the team standings. The Huskers are 16 shots back of the Fighting Irish, who scorched the Country Club course for an eight-under-par 280 in Monday's second round. Notre Dame opened the day with a 297 to head into the final round at 577.

Notre Dame's Isabella DiLisio led the Irish charge in the second round with a six-under-par 66 to sit in a tie for first after 36 holes at 142. DisLisio is tied with South Dakota State's Megan Mingo, who carded rounds of 73 and 69 to head into the final 18 holes at 142 as well.

With Mingo leading the way, the Jackrabbits sit just one shot back of the Big Red at 594. Missouri State is in fourth (600) while Kansas sits in fifth (601) after two rounds.

In addition to the strong rounds from Huskers in the lineup on Monday, Haley Thiele put up solid scores as an individual. The freshman from Wahoo, Neb., opened with a 77 before firing an even-par 72 in the second round. She enters the final round tied for 15th at 149. 

Sophomore Emily Gillman rounded out the Husker contingent tied for 60th (87-77-164).

Chip-N Club Invitational
Monday, Oct. 5 - Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015
The Country Club of Lincoln (Lincoln, Neb.)
Par 72, 6,105 Yards

Team Standings (Two Rounds)

1. Notre Dame - 297-280-577
2. Nebraska - 301-292-593
3. South Dakota State - 295-299-594
4. Missouri State - 302-298-600
5. Kansas - 299-302-601
6. UMKC - 304-305-609
7. South Dakota - 307-309-616
8. North Dakota State - 312-310-622
9. Illinois State - 314-313-627
10. Creighton - 324-307-631
11. Bellevue - 317-316-633
12. Omaha - 325-315-640
13. Nebraska-Kearney - 337-339-676

Individual Standings (Two Rounds)

T1. Isabella DiLisio, Notre Dame - 76-66-142 (-2)
T1. Megan Mingo, South Dakota State - 73-69-142 (-2)
3. Brenna Lervick, South Dakota - 72-71-143 (-1)
T4. Cynthia Diaz, UMKC - 72-72-144 (E)
T4. Kari Bellville, Notre Dame - 76-68-144 (E)
T4. Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, Kansas - 72-72-144 (E)
T7. Cassie Deeg, Nebraska - 73-72-145 (+1)
T7. Morgan Smejkal, Nebraska - 72-73-145 (+1)
T7. Jordan Ferreira, Notre Dame - 73-72-145 (+1)
T7. *Maddie Rose Hamilton, Notre Dame - 73-72-145 (+1)
T7. Stine Pettersen, Missouri State - 73-72-145 (+1)

Nebraska Individuals

T7. Cassie Deeg - 73-72-145 (+1)
T7. Morgan Smejkal - 72-73-145 (+1)
T13. Audrey Judd - 76-72-148 (+4)
*T15. Haley Thiele - 77-72-149 (+5)
T32. Sarah Pravecek - 80-75-155 (+11)
T39. Cassidy Stelzmiller - 82-75-157 (+13)
*T60. Emily Gillman - 87-77-164 (+20)

*competed as an individual outside of her team's lineup