Q&A with Steffi Neisen (2011-12)

Honors & Awards

• Tied for Second in Stroke Play at U.S. Publinks Championship (2012)
• U.S. Publinks Championship Match Play Qualifier (2012)
• U.S. Women's Amateur Championship Participant (2011)
• U.S. Publinks Championship Participant (2011, 2012)
• Four Career Top-10 Finishes (3 in 2011-12)
• Nine Career Top-25 Finishes (2 in 2012-13)
• School-Record Round of 66 (2012 Mountain View Collegiate, 2nd Round)
• Big Ten Golfer of the Week (Nov. 3, 2011)
• No. 3 Stroke Average by a Freshman in NU History (2011)
• No. 4 Stroke Average by a Sophomore in NU History (2012)
• Tied for 41st at Big Ten Championships (2013)
• Tied for 25th at Big Ten Championships (2012)
• Tied for 28th at Big 12 Championships (2011)
• NGCA Scholastic All-American (2011, 2012)
• Academic All-Big Ten (2012, 2013)
• Big Ten Sportsmanship Award (2012, 2013)
• Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award (2013)
• Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2011, 2012; Spring 2012)
• Big 12 Commissioner's Honor (Fall 2010; Spring 2011)
• Four Top Seven High School State Tournament Finishes (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
• Minnesota Class AAA High School State Runner-Up (2009)
• Five-Time Missota Conference Player of the Year (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
• Five-Time All-Missota Conference (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
• USGA Publinks Championships Participant (2008)
• Four-Time First-Team All-Minnesota (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)

Best Finish: T2nd (2011 Alamo Invitational)
Career Stroke Average: 77.58

Outlook (2013-14)
The most experienced Husker, Steffi Neisen enters her senior season at Nebraska having played in the NU lineup in all 96 rounds of her career. The New Prague, Minn., native produced Nebraska's No. 3 stroke average (79.03) as a junior.

Neisen hopes to close her career strong after producing some of the top season stroke averages in school history by a freshman (77.13) and a sophomore (76.67). She owns nine career top-25 finishes, including four career top-10 showings. She also set the NU school record with a second-round 66 at the Mountain View Collegiate in Tucson, Ariz., March 23, 2012.

In addition to her success on the course, Neisen is a star in the classroom. She was an academic All-Big Ten selection in 2012, and claimed Nebraska's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award in both 2012 and 2013. She earned NGCA Scholastic All-America awards in 2012 and 2013.

Junior (2012-13)
Neisen competed in all 31 rounds in the Nebraska lineup as a junior. However, she struggled at times as a junior and finished with a 79.03 stroke average on the year. She closed her third season in the NU lineup by tying for 41st at the Big Ten Tournament in French Lick, Ind., April 26-28.Neisen's 79.03 stroke average ranked third among the Huskers, trailing Katelyn Wright and Cassie Deeg.

Neisen notched the ninth top-25 finish of her career by tying for 22nd (78-78-70-226) at the Westbrook Spring Invitational in Peoria, Ariz., Feb. 24-25. Her final-round 70 was a season best, helping her to a season-best tournament total of 226.

She opened the spring by tying for 70th (84-82-74-240) at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic, Feb. 10-12, before her season-best performance at the Westbrook Invite. She managed a tie for 77th (76-82-82-240) at the Clover Cup in Mesa, Ariz., March 9-10, before tying for second with a 79 in a dual at Kansas on March 20.

Neisen closed the regular season with a tie for 62nd (89-82-80-251) at the SMU/Dallas Athletic Club Invitational, April 5-7.

Neisen opened her junior campaign by tying for 21st at Nebraska's season-opening Chip-N Club Invitational with a three-round score of 237 (80-78-79).

Neisen closed the 2012 fall campaign with a 227 at the Alamo Invitational, Oct. 28-30. She posted solid rounds of 75-75-77 in San Antonio to tie for 47th in a talented 15-team field.

She struggled to a tie for 74th (79-77-86-242) in a loaded 18-team field at the Golfweek Conference Challenge in Wolcott, Colo., Sept. 24-26. She bounced back to post a 230 (76-79-75) to tie for 46th at the Price's "Give 'Em Five" Invitational in Las Cruces, N.M., Oct. 8-10, before finishing 45th with a 242 (79-83-80) at the Missouri State/Payne Stewart Invitational in Springfield, Mo., Oct. 15-16.

Off the course, Neisen continued to be a tremendous representative of the Husker program. She earned NGCA Scholastic All-America honors for the third straight year and claimed academic All-Big Ten accolades for the second time. Neisen was NU's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner and earned a prestigious Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award in 2013. She also captured a pair of spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll.

Neisen, who owns the Nebraska single-round record with a six-under 66 in the second round of the 2012 Mountain View Collegiate in Tucson, Ariz., enjoyed a strong summer of 2012. She tied for second (70-68-138) in stroke play at the U.S. Women's Amateur Publinks Championships to qualify for the match play portion of the national event for the first time in her career. Neisen's score trailed only 2012 USC All-American Lisa McCloskey (70-67-137) in Neshanic Station, N.J.

Sophomore (2011-12)
Neisen ranked second among the Huskers with a 76.67 stroke average while playing in all 33 rounds. She produced five top-25 finishes, including a trio of top-10 showings and the first top-five finish of her career with a tie for second at the 2011 Alamo Invitational to close NU's fall campaign. Neisen competed in the Husker lineup in all 32 rounds as a rookie and produced NU's No. 3 stroke average (77.13) on the year. Her average ranked third all-time among Husker freshmen.

Neisen's performance at the Alamo Invite, Oct. 30-Nov. 1, was capped by a final-round 69 on her way to a career-best 214 tournament total. She opened with an even-par 72 in the first round and a 73 in the second round. Neisen was the Big Ten Golfer of the Week (Nov. 3, 2011).

She added a school-record 66 in the second round of the Mountain View Collegiate in Tucson, Ariz., March 23. She had an opening-round 75 and a final-round 74 to finish with the second-best tournament total (215) of her career to tie for seventh. It was Neisen's third top-10 finish of the season and fourth of her career.

Neisen closed the season by tying for 25th at Nebraska's first-ever Big Ten Tournament. She carded a 230 (76-78-76) over three rounds at the Donald C. Ross Course in French Lick, Ind., April 27-29.

Neisen opened the year with a then-career-best tie for sixth (227) at the 2011 Chip-N Club Invitational at the Country Club of Lincoln. Her performance included a then-career-best-matching one-under-par 71 in the second round, which tied eventual champion Felicia Esperecueta for the best round of the tournament.

Neisen managed a 34th-place finish (235) at the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invite in Sammamish, Wash., Oct. 3-5. She tied for 50th (78-79-82-239) at the Lady Northern Invite in French Lick, Ind., Oct. 10-11. Neisen tied for 26th (77-81-76) a week later at the Hoosier Fall Invitational in Carmel, Ind., to help the Huskers to a fourth-place team finish in a 13-team field.

After closing the fall with her career performance at the Alamo Invite, she opened the spring by tying for 48th (78-77-80-235) at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic, Feb. 12-14. She added a tie for 40th (72-80-73-225) at the Westbrook Spring Invitational in Peoria, Ariz., Feb. 26-27.

Neisen bounced back with her third top-15 effort of the year by tying for 13th (73-78-79-230) in the BYU at Entrada Classic in St. George, Utah, March 19-20. She finished 50th (83-84-79-246) at the Ohio State Spring Invite, April 21-22, before bouncing back at the Big Ten Tournament.

Freshman (2010-11)
Neisen competed in the Husker lineup in all 32 rounds as a rookie and produced NU's No. 3 stroke average (77.13) on the year. Her average ranked third all-time among Husker freshmen.One of the most accomplished junior golfers in Minnesota, Neisen came to Nebraska after ranking among the top players in the state each of her four years of high school. She competed at the varsity level for six seasons at New Prague High School, leading the team to its first-ever state team championship as a senior in the spring of 2010. The five-time Missota Conference Player of the Year finished in the top seven at the Class AAA (state's largest) State Tournament each of her final four seasons.

Neisen closed her freshman campaign by tying for 28th (72-74-80-226) at the 2011 Big 12 Championships in Columbia, Mo. She closed each of the first two days among the top 10 players in the 60-player field.

During the fall, Neisen notched Nebraska's second-best stroke average (77.07) trailing only junior Madeleine Sheils. Neisen's performance in the fall included a season-best tie for ninth (77-73-73-223) at the Dale McNamara Invite in Owasso, Okla. She added a tie for 15th (75-74-81-230) at the Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invite in Lawrence, Kan., after opening her career with a tie for 29th (76-79-155) at the rain-shortened Chip-N Club Invite at Wilderness Ridge in Lincoln.

After struggling to a tie for 64th (78-79-81-238) at the Johnie Imes Invite in Columbia, Mo., Neisen bounced back with her best performance at the Dale McNamara Invite. She closed the fall campaign by tying for 51st (74-79-80-233) at the Alamo Invite.

Neisen produced her best round and three-round tournament score of the season at the Mountain View Collegiate in Tucson, Ariz., in late-March. Her season-best 54-hole score of 222 (77-74-71) included a season-best final-round 71 to tie for 30th.

Neisen opened the spring by tying for 46th (78-78-75-231) at the 33-team Kiawah Island Intercollegiate in February. She followed with a tie for 56th (83-78-73-234) at the UNLV Spring Invite in Boulder Creek, Nev., March 7-9. She tied for 39th (82-75-81-238) at the BYU Entrada Classic in St. George, Utah, March 21-22. She closed the regular season with a three-round total of 238 (81-79-78) to tie for 51st at the Baylor Spring Invite, April 11-12.

High School/Amateur
One of the most accomplished junior golfers in Minnesota, Neisen came to Nebraska as a four-time first-team all-stater. She competed at the varsity level for six seasons at New Prague High School, leading the team to its first-ever state team championship as a senior in the spring of 2010. The five-time Missota Conference Player of the Year finished in the top seven at the Class AAA (state's largest) State Tournament each of her final four seasons.Steffi is the daughter of Chris and Angie Neisen, and has a sister, McKenzie, 16, and a brother, Thomas, 11.

A four-time first-team Class AAA (Minnesota's largest) selection, Neisen was the state runner-up at New Prague High School in 2009. She finished four strokes out of first at the 2009 championships in June, closing her two rounds at 155 on the par-73, 5,809-yard layout at Bunker Hills Golf Course in Coon Rapids, Minn.

Neisen was a medalist in more than 50 high school tournaments. She posted the state's best stroke average (73.5) over her junior and senior seasons for Coach Matt Shetka at New Prague. She also holds the Missota Conference individual record with a round of 69.

As a junior golfer, Neisen competed at the 2008 USGA Publinks Championship in Erin Hills, Wis. She earned top-10 finishes in AJGA, Pepsi Little People, PGA Junior Series events and several Minnesota Junior Girls Championships. She was the youngest player among the top-10 finishers at the Minnesota State Women's Amateur in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Neisen was also a three-time member of both the Minnesota-Wisconsin Cup team and the Minnesota-Manitoba Cup team. Her swing coach is Chris Baisch. She was also a member of National Honor Society.

Personal
Steffi is the daughter of Chris and Angie Neisen, and has a younger sister, McKenzie, and a younger brother, Thomas.

Neisen made an early commitment to the Husker golf program, choosing Nebraska before her junior season of high school in 2009. She received offers from several Big Ten and Big 12 schools. Steffi is majoring in pre-social science education at Nebraska, and earned NGCA Scholastic All-America honors in 2011 and 2012. She was an academic All-Big Ten selection in 2012. She is a three-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll pick and was a two-time Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll selection. Neisen is also a two-time winner of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award (2012, 2013) and was a Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award recipient in 2013.

Neisen's Career Statistics