Career Highlights
- Three-Time NCAA Regional Qualifier (2002, 2003, 2005
- NGCA Scholastic All-American (2003, 2004)
- First-Team Academic All-Big 12 (2003, 2004, 2005)
- Tied for 11th at Big 12 Championships (2003)
- Tied for 17th at 2003 NCAA Central Regional
- Tied for 114th at 2003 NCAA Championships
- Tied for 42nd at 2005 NCAA Central Regional
- Eight-Time Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll
(Fall 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004); (Spring 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
Best Finish:Â Second (2003 Chip-N Club Invitational; 2004 Edwin Watts/Palmetto Invitational)
Career Stroke Average: 77.79
Senior (2004-05)Â
Merynn Ito (pronounced EE-toe) finished an outstanding career at Nebraska with another season of consistently low scores. The Aiea, Hawaii native led the Huskers in the 2004-05 season, recording four top-10 performances through 11 regular season tournaments and posting a stroke average of 76.57 over 35 rounds. Ito improved her career stroke average from 78.20 to 77.79 in her final season. Throughout her four years, she cut more than three strokes off her game.
Also a leader in the classroom, Ito earned first-team academic All-Big 12 in 2005 for the third year in row. Ito was also named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll for the eighth consecutive semester for Spring 2005.
As the 2004-05 team captain, Ito's season-best second-place finish at the Edwin Watts/Palmetto Intercollegiate in Kiawah Island, S. C., Nov. 1-2, tied the Nebraska school record by hitting a career-low 68 in the second round. In that tournament, Ito added scores of 74 in the opening round and 73 in the final round to produce a career-best 215.
Starting out the season with strong scores, Ito placed fourth in the season opener at Nebraska's Chip-N Club Invitational Sept. 19-20 and tied for sixth at the Central District Invitational in Parrish, Fla, Feb. 21-22. At the Mountain View Collegiate March 26-27 at Tucson, Ariz., she was just two strokes over her career-best, posting a score of 217 and finishing the tournament in a tie for eighth place.
In the final seven tournaments of her career, Ito produced three rounds of better than 70, including scores of 69 in the final round of the Moutain View Collegiate and in the opening round of the Central District Invitational.
At the Big 12 Championships held in Austin, Texas, April 22-24, Ito helped the Huskers to a seventh-place team finish by individually placing in a tie for 30th.
Ito's final performance was at the NCAA Central Regionals in Lubbock, Texas May 5-7 where she finished in a tie for 42nd place after shooting a final score of 231. She was the only Husker and one of only three individual competitors at the tournament.
Junior (2003-04)
Ito ranked second on the club with a 77.16 stroke average, trailing only Stephanie Schaefer's 76.84. Ito produced four top-15 finishes, including a second-place showing at the Chip-N Club Invitational when she tied her then-career best with a 223 (72-77-74).
She tied for third at the Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational with a 226 (73-76-77) and tied for fourth at the Highlands Ranch Intercollegiate (75-77-152). She opened the season by tying for 13th at the Embassy Suites/Tyson Invitational (79-77-75-231).
During the fall, Ito shot 80 or better in all 17 rounds of competition. She struggled somewhat during the spring, with three rounds above 80, but rebounded to fire 78 or better in each of her final five rounds of spring competition.
Ito finished in a tie for 30th at the rain-shortened Big 12 Championships by shooting back-to-back rounds of 78 to finish at 156.
In the classroom, Ito earned NGCA Scholastic All-America honors for the second straight season after earning her second spot on the first-team academic All-Big 12 squad.
Sophomore (2002-03)
Nebraska's No. 2 golfer for most of the season, Ito finished with a 77.64 stroke average, while producing six top-20 finishes.
Ito helped the Huskers qualify for the NCAA Championships by tying for 17th at the NCAA Central Regional at Firethorn Golf Club in Lincoln. At the Central Regional, Ito provided a highlight with a season-low round of 71 in the second round to finish the tournament with a 228 (77-71-80).
Ito closed a strong sophomore campaign by finishing in a tie for 114th at the NCAA Championships.
The Aiea, Hawaii native opened the season by finishing in a tie for 20th at the Ram Classic, before tying for 12th at the Chip-N Club Invitational. She finished 14th at the Pat Bradley Invitational, before tying for ninth at the Central District Invitational for her only top-10 finish of the season. Her 226 (78-73-75) was a season best and tied her then career-low score over three rounds.
Ito built momentum into the postseason by tying for 11th at the Big 12 Championships (79-77-74-230).
A strong student, Ito added NGCA Scholastic All-America honors along with first-team academic All-Big 12 accolades.
Freshman (2001-02)
One of just three Huskers to compete in every tournament, Ito posted a 79.88 stroke average as a true freshman.
Ito produced four top-15 finishes, including a season-best tie for seventh at the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic with a season-low 226 (79-75-72). She tied for 12th at the Heather Farr Memorial (77-74-151) and finished 13th at the Sam Houston State Spring Invitational. Ito added a tie for 15th at the Highlands Ranch Intercollegiate (76-75-151).
Ito closed her freshman season by tying for 86th at the NCAA Central Regional after finishing in a tie for 50th at the Big 12 Championships.
High School/Amateur
The 2000 Hawaii State High School champion, Ito qualified for the 2000 National Junior PGA Championship after taking the Hawaii Junior PGA title. At the national competition, she posted a top-15 finish.
Ito also qualified for the USGA Public Links, the Women's Trans and the U.S. Women's Amateur. She qualified for the 2001 U.S. Amateur after winning the Hawaii Women’s Amateur Championship.
While playing for Aeia High School, Ito posted top-five finishes at state all four years, finishing second as a freshman, fourth as a sophomore, first as a junior and fifth as a senior.
Personal
The daughter of Reynold and Melanie Ito, Merynn was born March 11, 1983. A two-time NGCA Scholastic All-American, she carries a 3.545 GPA as a news-editorial major.
Ito’s Final Career Statistics
Year
Rounds
Strokes
Avg.
Low 18
Low 54
2001-02
33
2,636
79.88
72
226
2002-03
39
3,028
77.64
71
226
2003-04
32
2,469
77.16
72
223
2004-05
35
2,680
76.57
68
215
Totals
139
10,813
77.79
68
215