Huskers Shoot to Strong Start in Wisconsin

Hamish Murray and Quinn Yost both fired rounds of 69 (-3) to lead the Nebraska men's golf team to a tie for third in an 18-team field after the opening round at the Badger Invitational in Wisconsin on Sunday.

Murray, a junior transfer from Sydney, Australia, carded five birdies and eight pars over his final 13 holes at the University Ridge Golf Course to bounce back from back-to-back bogeys on holes No. 4 and 5. He closed his round with a 32 (-4) on the back nine that included four birdies and five pars.

Yost, a sophomore from Farmington, N.M., matched Murray shot-for-shot with five birdies, 11 pars and a pair bogeys in the first round. Yost got off to a strong start with a 34 (-2) on the front nine, carding two birdies and seven pars. He overcame a pair of bogeys on the back nine with a trio of birdies.

Yost and Murray enter Monday's second round in a tie for sixth on the individual leaderboard, four strokes behind the tournament leader Austin Cherichella from Florida Gulf Coast, who scorched the par-72, 7,271-yard layout at University Ridge for a 65 (-7).

The Huskers closed the first round with a 282 (-6), trailing only Florida Gulf Coast's 274 (-14) and Middle Tennessee's 281 (-7) in the team standings. Nebraska is tied with Long Beach State, one shot ahead of both Illinois State and Central Arkansas in a tie for fifth at 283 (-5).

Reed Malleck also played solid golf for the Huskers, carding a 71 (-1) over Sunday's 18 holes. The senior from York, Neb., recorded three birdies and 13 pars to overcome a pair of bogeys. Malleck enters the second round tied for 21st.

Fifth-year senior Will Marshall (Elburn, Ill.) rounded out Nebraska's team score in the five-count-four format with a 73 (+1). Marshall rebounded from a slow start with a 39 on the front nine, by carding a 34 (-2) on the back with a trio of birdies, five pars and a bogey, to end the tournament's opening day in a tie for 44th. 

Harry Crockett rounded out Nebraska's lineup with a 75 (+3). The junior from Oxted, England overcame a 41 on the front with a 34 of his own on the back, including an eagle on No. 16 - a 554-yard, par-5. Crockett enters the second round tied for 58th.

In addition to the team competition at the Badger Invitational, Nebraska sophomore Davis Johnson completed rounds of 80 and 77 over the first 36 at the TPC Individual at TPC Wisconsin on Sunday. He enters tomorrow's final round in a tie for 21st at 157 (+13) in a 26-player field.

Play resumes at the Badger Invitational with the second round beginning with tee times at 9:30 a.m. (CT) on Monday.

Badger Invitational
Oct. 1-3, 2023
University Ridge GC (Madison, Wis.)
Par 72, 7,271 Yards

Team Standings (First Round)
1. Florida Gulf Coast - 274 (-14)
2. Middle Tennessee - 281 (-7)
T3. Nebraska - 282 (-6)
T3. Long Beach State - 282 (-6)
T5. Illinois State - 283 (-5)
T5. Central Arkansas - 283 (-5)
7. South Dakota State - 286 (-2)
T8. Eastern Michigan - 288 (E)
T8. VCU - 288 (E)
T10. Northern Illinois - 290 (+2)
T10. Campbell - 290 (+2)
12. Marquette - 291 (+3)
13. Ball State - 294 (+6)
14. Wisconsin - 296 (+8)
15. Western Carolina - 299 (+11)
16. South Alabama - 300 (+12)
17. Maryland - 303 (+15)
18. Loyola-Chicago - 308 (+20)

Individual Standings (First Round)
1. Austin Cherichella, FGCU - 65 (-7)
2. Zach Little, Central Arkansas - 66 (-6)
T3. Veikka Viskari, VCU - 68 (-4)
T3. Luke Honner, South Dakota State - 68 (-4)
T3. Joachim Tegner, Campbell - 68 (-4)
T6. Hamish Murray, Nebraska - 69 (-3)
T6. Quinn Yost, Nebraska - 69 (-3)
T6. Cam Kellett, Eastern Michigan - 69 (-3)
T6. Felix Krammer, Northern Illinois - 69 (-3)
T6. Bhoom Sima Aree, Marquette - 69 (-3)
T6. Tj Barger, Illinois State - 69 (-3)
T6. Matt Millar, FGCU - 69 (-3)
T6. Mike Barnard, Middle Tennessee - 69 (-3)
T6. Joe Sullivan, FGCU - 69 (-3)
T6. Owen Stamper, Middle Tennessee - 69 (-3)
T6. Isaac Rodea, Long Beach State - 69 (-3)

Nebraska Individuals
T6. Hamish Murray - 69 (-3)
T6. Quinn Yost - 69 (-3)
T21. Reed Malleck - 71 (-1)
T44. Will Marshall - 73 (+1)
T58. Harry Crockett - 75 (+3) 

TPC Individual (TPC Wisconsin)
T21. Davis Johnson - 80-77-157 (+13)