Young Husker Lineup Looks to Continue Growth

One year after welcoming seven newcomers, the 2016-17 Nebraska golf team hopes to build off a season that featured six top-10 team finishes.

Seniors Michael Colgate and Justin Jennings will provide leadership for the Huskers after finishing with the top two stroke averages from last season. Colgate, who joined the team in 2015-16 from Nebraska, Kearney, compiled a team-leading 74.29 stroke average after appearing in every tournament.

Jennings, a three-year starter, finished the year with a 75.13 average over 31 rounds. Sean Song, who begins his sophomore season in 2016-17, was the other Husker who started every event last season. The Omaha, Neb., native managed a 77.16 average and led the team at the Big Ten Championships with a tie for 39th individually.

Sophomores Jackson Wendling and Jace Guthmiller started nearly every tournament last season. Wendling played in all but one event, turning in a 75.71 average in 28 rounds. Guthmiller played in all but two competitions, earning a 77.38 average in 26 rounds.

Sophomores Joel Sneed and Dylan McCabe also return for the Huskers this year. Sneed made four appearances, earning a 77.50 stroke average. McCabe made a pair of showings, including the Big Ten Match Play.

Freshmen Cameron Jones and Tanner Owen bring a wealth of junior golf experience to the team in 2016-17. Jones, a Perth, Australia native, attended high school at St. Norbert College, and won the Western Australian Junior Match Play and Melville Glades Junior Open. Owen, who hails from Parkville, Mo., earned all-state honors twice, and won the Missouri Junior Match Play title in addition to four individual high school tournaments.

The Huskers begin their 2016-17 campaign in Wisconsin at the Badger Invitational, Sept. 11-13. University Ridge Golf Course in Madison will host the event.

The following week, NU makes a trip to Fort Collins, Colo., to play Fort Collins Country Club in the Ram Masters Invitational, Sept. 19-20. A few days later, the Huskers return to their home state to compete in The Jackrabbit at The Prairie Club in Valentine, Neb., Sept. 25-27.

Nebraska has two events in October before the spring season commences, beginning with the Bayou City Collegiate Classic, Oct. 10-11, at Golfcrest Country Club in Pearland, Texas. The fall season ends with the Kiawah Classic, Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at Turtle Point Golf Course in Kiawah Island, S.C.

The spring season opens Feb. 10-11 in Palm Coast, Fla., for the Big Ten Match Play Championship. Hammock Beach Resort will play host to the annual event.

One week later, NU will play in the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate at The Classic Club in Palm, Desert, Calif.

The lone competition in March is the Border Olympics, set for March 11-12 at Laredo Country Club in Laredo, Texas. The first of three tournaments in April is the Hawkeye Invitational, April 15-16, at Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City, Iowa.

The Huskers travel to another Big Ten city April 22-23 for the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate at Ohio State University Golf Club’s Scarlet Course in Columbus before the conference tournament. The Big Ten Championships will be contested April 28-30 at Baltimore Country Club in Maryland.

NCAA Regionals, which will be hosted at six different sites, is slated for May 15-17. The NCAA Championships are scheduled for May 26-31 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill.