Huskers Fire Career Bests in Illinois

The Nebraska men’s golf team finished at 858 (-6) to match its best three-round tournament score since 2017, as the Huskers finished seventh in a strong field at the Rich Harvest Farms Invitational in Sugar Grove, Ill., on Monday.

The Huskers, who combined to shoot better than par in each of the three rounds, challenged for a top-three spot in the team race up until the final two holes of competition on Monday, closing the final round with a 286 (-2). The score was the best by a Husker five-count-four lineup since shooting an 858 (-6) at the Jackrabbit Invitational in Valentine, Neb., Oct. 1-3, 2017. NU also shot an 858 (-6) at the Denver Desert Shootout, March 19-21, 2015. The last time the Huskers fired a score better than 858 came with an 846 (-18) at the Desert Shootout at Palm Valley Golf Club in Arizona, March 20-22, 2014.

Tom Westenberger led the Huskers by tying for 10th with a career-best three-round total of 212 (-4). The senior from Wuppertal, Germany improved his career best by five strokes, which came with a 217 at the 2021 Aggie Invitational.

Fellow senior Branden Meyer tied for 14th on the par 72, 7,200-yard layout by carding three consecutive rounds of 71 to close with a career-best 213 (-3). Meyer’s previous Nebraska career-best 54-hole score came with a 224 in 2019.

Junior Will Marshall just missed a top-25 finish, taking 26th with a career-best even-par 216. He closed with a career-best-tying 71 (-1) in the final round. His previous career-best 54-hole score came last week at the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate with a 221.

The career bests kept coming for the Huskers, as senior Tristan Nelko tied for 49th with a career-best three-round total of 220 (+4).  Nelko’s previous career-best was a 225.

Jeremy Sisson added a career-best total of his own while tying for 18th as an individual while playing outside the Husker lineup. The sophomore from Skaneateles, N.Y., scorched the course Monday for a career-best 68 (-4) to finish with a career-best three-round total of 214 (-2). Sisson’s previous career-best finish came with a tie for 25th with a 221 (+8) on a par-71 layout at the Git-R-Done Invitational at Firethorn in April.

Sophomore Reed Malleck rounded out the Big Red lineup with a 224 (+8) to tie for 63rd, just missing his career-best tournament total, which came with a 223 at the season-opening Rod Myers Invitational.

Purdue took the team title with an 843 (-21), coming from behind to upend runner-up Missouri by one stroke at 844 (-20). Wisconsin finished third at 853 (-11), while the hosts from Northern Illinois closed in fourth at 855 (-9). Michigan and Marquette tied for fifth at 857 (-7) just one shot ahead of the Huskers. Nebraska picked up five wins over Minnesota and Miami (Ohio), which finished at 862, along with James Madison (863), Kansas State (866) and Arkansas State (867).

Nebraska will be back in action at the Quail Valley Invitational co-hosted by Michigan State and Notre Dame in Vero Beach, Fla. (Oct. 16-18).

Rich Harvest Farms Intercollegiate

Oct. 2-4, 2021

Sugar Grove, Ill. (Host: Northern Illinois)

Rich Harvest Farms Golf Course (Par 72, 7,200 Yards)

Final Team Results 

1. Purdue – 282-288-273= 843 (-21)

2. Missouri – 284-282-278=844 (-20)

3. Wisconsin – 286-283-284= 853 (-11)

4. Northern Illinois – 279-293-283= 855 (-9)

T5. Michigan – 290-283-284= 857 (-7)

T5. Marquette – 282-295-280= 857 (-7)

7. Nebraska – 287-285-286= 858 (-6)

T8. Miami (Ohio) – 291-287-284= 862 (-2)

T8. Minnesota – 292-285-285= 862 (-2)

10. James Madison – 286-290-287= 863 (-1)

11. Kansas State – 290-288-288= 866 (+2)

12. Arkansas State – 292-294-281= 867 (+3)

Nebraska Individuals

T10. Tom Westenberger – 71-70-71= 212 (-4)

T14. Branden Meyer – 71-71-71= 213 (-3)

*T18. Jeremy Sisson – 72-74-68= 214 (-2)

T26. Will Marshall – 72-73-71= 216 (E)

T49. Tristan Nelko – 76-71-73= 220 (+4)

T63. Reed Malleck– 73-76-75= 224 (+8)

*competing as an individual outside Nebraska’s lineup