AUSTIN, Texas - Kansas State is tied for ninth after the first round of the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational Friday. The Wildcats shot a 322 which is even with Baylor.

Head coach Kristi Knight said the University of Texas Golf Club’s course, which will host the 2005 Big 12 tournament, is a very tough, but fair course.

“There were stretches were we really had to battle,” Knight explained. “But we survived. The players finished strong and held together instead of getting frustrated and losing shots.”

Knight said the wind was a major factor in the high scores of the first round, particularly on one par 4. She explained many of the players came up short on that hole because of the penalizing wind.

“On No. 18, we threw away four shots because we didn’t approach it the right way,” she said. “For reasons like that, we know we can do better tomorrow.”

Nebraska took the first-day lead with a 302, while the Huskers’ Elli Brown leads the individual race with a 70.

Sisters Sarah and Katy Heffel are tied for 26th with a 79. According to Knight, senior Sarah Heffel salvaged the round towards the final holes.

“Sarah finished up well,” Knight said. “She had some adventures in the middle of the round, but she righted the ship and had some birdies as she came in.”

The Wildcats continue play at the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Inviational in Austin, Texas, at 8 a.m. Saturday for the second 18 holes. The final 18 round will shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. For complete coverage of the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational, please visit Kansas State’s website at www.kstatesports.com and find live results at www.golfstat.com. Team

Scores: 1. Nebraska 302 2. Duke 307 3. Arkansas 309 4. Oklahoma State 310 5. Tulsa 311 6. Texas A&M 312 7. Texas 313 8. Arizona State 315 T9. Kansas State, Baylor 322 11. TCU 324 T12. Missouri, New Mexico State, SMU, Texas Tech 325 16. Oklahoma 328 17. Kansas 333

Top Individuals: 1. Elli Brown, Nebraska 70 2. Lee Anne Pace, Tulsa 71 3. Christa Spedding, Texas A&M 72 4. Merynn Ito, Nebraska 73

Wildcat Individuals: T26. Sarah Heffel 79 T26. Katy Heffel 79 T26. Michelle Regan 79 (competing as individual) T48. Helene Robert 81 T62. Kali Quick 83 T81. Hailey Mireles 85