Sports – Page 234 – North Platte Post Archive

Huskers-S. Alabama to Be Played in Prime Time

Posted on April 13, 2015

The Big Ten Network announced its schedule of 2015 prime-time football games on Monday, including Nebraska’s Sept. 12 home game against South Alabama.

The exact kickoff time for the Husker-South Alabama matchup will be announced at a later date. The meeting will be the first ever between the two programs. South Alabama plays in the Sun Belt Conference and reached the Camellia Bowl in 2014 in its second season as a full member of the Football Bowl Subdivision ranks.

BTN has selected 10 games to air in prime-time this fall, beginning on Sept. 4 and continuing through Nov. 14.

Additional Nebraska games could be selected for prime-time telecasts by other television partners.

BTN Announces 2015 Primetime Football Schedule

Posted on April 13, 2015

CHICAGO – BTN’s 2015 primetime football schedule will feature the conference’s 2014 West Division Champion Wisconsin Badgers, Cotton Bowl Champion Michigan State and Michigan in its first year under new head coach Jim Harbaugh among its contests on six key Saturday nights.

Twelve of the 14 Big Ten schools will play in primetime on BTN, and four of the games are conference contests, including Minnesota at Iowa in the first-ever primetime battle for the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy at Kinnick Stadium.

“Since BTN launched, there has never been more anticipation leading into the football season,” said BTN President Mark Silverman.

The first of BTN’s conference matchups in primetime features Rutgers at Penn State on Sept. 19. Last season in the Scarlet Knights’ Big Ten debut, the Nittany Lions played the spoiler and left Piscataway victorious after a late touchdown drive. This year at Beaver Stadium, Rutgers will look to even the score in this budding rivalry of neighboring state schools.

On Oct. 3, Michigan visits Maryland in a Big Ten East Division clash. The Terrapins defeated the Wolverines 23-16 last year, but with a new regime in place, Michigan has high hopes of returning to the top of the pack. Maryland impressed in its first Big Ten season, finishing the season with a 7-6 record, including 4-4 in conference play.

Michigan State, which ended last season ranked No. 5 in the country after its dramatic comeback victory over Baylor in the Cotton Bowl, visits Rutgers on Oct. 10. The Spartans, a preseason top-10 squad, return quarterback Connor Cook and a number of key cogs on the defensive side who are intent on earning a spot in this year’s College Football Playoff.

BTN closes out its primetime slate on Nov. 14 with the Floyd of Rosedale rivalry game, when the Hawkeyes host the Gophers. Iowa has won six of the last 10, but Minnesota looks to capture the trophy for the second straight season after its impressive 51-14 victory last year.

BTN’s other primetime selections include Pittsburgh at Iowa on Sept. 19, when former Michigan State defensive coordinator and now Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi makes his return to the conference. Also on the schedule are Hawaii at Wisconsin and Ball State at Northwestern.

In all, BTN will televise at least 40 football games this fall. Start times and television arrangements for other early season games will be announced at a later date.

BTN’s Primetime Schedule

Saturday, Sept. 12

South Alabama at Nebraska

Saturday, Sept. 19

Rutgers at Penn State

Saturday, September 26

Hawaii at Wisconsin

Saturday, October 3

Michigan at Maryland

Saturday, October 10

Michigan State at Rutgers

Saturday, November 14

Minnesota at Iowa

*Kent State at Illinois on Friday, Sept. 4 previously announced

*Florida International at Indiana on Sept. 12, Pittsburgh at Iowa on Sept. 19 and Ball State at Northwestern on Sept. 26 will also appear in primetime in the Big Ten team’s home market and on Extra Football Game Channels and BTN2Go elsewhere.

This Week in Nebraska Athletics

Posted on April 13, 2015

Tuesday, April 14 Baseball at Creighton (CBS Sports Network) Omaha, Neb. (TD Ameritrade) 7:05 p.m.

Wednesday, April 15 Softball at Omaha Omaha, Neb. 6 p.m.

Wednesday, April 15 Baseball Omaha (BTN Plus) Hawks Field 6:35 p.m.

Friday, April 17 Men’s Tennis Penn State Lincoln, Neb. 4 p.m.

Friday, April 17 Softball Northwestern Bowlin Stadium 5:30 p.m.

Friday, April 17 Baseball Ohio State Hawks Field 6:35 p.m.

Friday, April 17 Women’s Gymnastics at NCAA Championship Semifinals Fort Worth, Texas 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 18 Men’s Golf at Hawkeye Invitational Iowa City, Iowa 9 a.m.

Saturday, April 18 Soccer at Colorado Boulder, Colo. 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, April 18 Track & Field at Michael Johnson Classic Waco, Texas 11 a.m.

Saturday, April 18 Women’s Tennis at Illinois Urbana, Ill. Noon

Saturday, April 18 Softball World’s Largest Softball Tailgate Bowlin Stadium 10 a.m.

Saturday, April 18 Softball Northwestern Bowlin Stadium 1 p.m.

Saturday, April 18 Baseball Ohio State (NET/BTN Plus) Hawks Field 2:05 p.m.

Saturday, April 18 Soccer at Denver Denver, Colo. 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 18 Women’s Gymnastics at NCAA Super Six Finals Fort Worth, Texas 6 p.m.

Sunday, April 19 Men’s Golf at Hawkeye Invitational Iowa City, Iowa 9 a.m.

Sunday, April 19 Women’s Tennis at Northwestern Evanston, Ill. 11 a.m.

Sunday, April 19 Men’s Tennis Ohio State Lincoln, Neb. Noon

Sunday, April 19 Baseball Ohio State Hawks Field 1:05 p.m.

Sunday, April 19 Women’s Gymnastics at NCAA Individual Event Finals Fort Worth, Texas 2 p.m.

Sunday, April 19 Softball Northwestern Bowlin Stadium 3 p.m.

NPCC Knights Softball Travel to Play Hastings JV

Posted on April 13, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights softball team will travel to Hastings to play the Hastings College Junior Varsity Lady Broncos onWednesday, April 15.

The Knights are 16 – 20 on the season. They are hitting .336 as a team with 34 home runs, which is 11^th in the nation amongst National Junior College Athletic Association Division II schools.

The Knights are led offensively by Sara Villalobos, with a .442 batting average. Villalobos also had hit six home runs, and batted in 29 runs. Villalobos leads the team in hits with 50, runs scored with 30 and an on base percentage of .504.

Sara Runia leads the Knights with eight home runs, eight doubles and a .729 slugging percentage. Runia is hitting .442, has scored 21 runs, has 46 hits and has 26 runs batted in.

Brittney Odum leads the team in runs batted in with 31. Odum is hitting .404, has seven home runs and seven doubles.

In the ring, the Knights are led by Baileigh Oleson with a 3.19 earned run average. Oleson is 6 – 8 on the year, has struck out 53 and has one save on the season. Shannon Lieber is 8 – 9 on the season with an earned run average of 3.57 and has 61 strike outs.

There are no available statistics for the Lady Broncos. Former North Platte High School Lady Bulldog Ashton Hernandez is a pitcher for the Lady Broncos.

Hernandez in the prior meeting against the Knights pitched six innings, allowed nine runs, five earned runs and struck out two.

Game times are at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Lincoln County Raceway Results 4-11-15

Posted on April 13, 2015

Getting the 2015 campaign started off on top at Lincoln County Raceway in North Platte, Nebraska were Mike Densberger, Chad Dolan, Mike Nichols, Brady Weinman and Erik Nelson in front of a capacity crowd on Saturday evening.

Starting on the pole and never looking back, Mike Densberger of Lincoln cruised to a dominating win in the IMCA Modified Feature event. Densberger had a straightaway lead over the rest of the field as the heat race winner cruised under the checkered flag in the main event. Veteran wheelman Chuck Stryker of Eddyville started on the outside of the front row and was able to stay within the top five through the 20 lap feature to finish second overall. Charley Brown of Maxwell worked his magic on the high banks to earn a third place showing. Along with Densberger, Cozad’s Colton Osborn was a heat race winner in the Modified division.

Battling to the front from a third row starting position during the early laps that were plagued with cautions paid off for Chad Dolan of Gibbon, as he cruised to an IMCA Northern Sport Modified Feature victory. Dolan was able to win his heat race and then snare the lead in the feature on the fourth lap and never relinquish the lead again. Engaged in a see-saw skirmish during the first three laps of the feature was front row starters Henry Henderson of Sutherland and North Platte’s Kerry Jones. Henderson led the first lap before Jones took the lead for the second and third circuits. The duo of Henderson and Jones stayed near the front for the duration and scored second and third place honors, respectively. Along with Dolan, Paul Donavan of McCook and Gothenburg’s Jamey Kennicutt won early in the evening heat races.

Leading the lap that means the most, Mike Nichols took the lead after the white flag was thrown and raced back around the high banks to the checkered flag to score an IMCA Stock Car Feature victory for the Harlan, Iowa hotshoe. Finishing second overall, just getting edged at the finish line by Nichols was Casey Woken of Ogallala. Woken took the lead on the eighth lap from Casey Werkmeister of Maywood and set a blistering pace from the front of the field. Starting in the third row and staying inside the top five throughout the feature was the ‘Flyin Farmer’ Kyle Clough of Wallace, as he finished third overall when the checkered flag flew. Woken along with Dash for Cash winner Mikey Dancer of North Platte won the heat races in the division.

Seeking the fastest groove, it took until the seventh lap before Brady Weinman was able to carry the momentum on the cushion to score the lead and then storm his way to an IMCA Hobby Stock Feature victory. Weinman of Arnold was on cruise control in front of the field for much of the feature event. The Benkelman Bullet Austin Davis led the first six laps and then spent the remainder of the main event trying to reel in Weinman. Davis was forced to settle with runner-up honors. Lexington speedster Jacob Wolsleben won a heat race and carried the momentum into the feature where he finished third overall. Along with Wolsleben, Tyson Canas of Cozad was a heat race winner.

Hitting the loud pedal with authority was Erik Nelson of Central City in storming into the lead on lap three and never again trailing scored the wheelman a IMCA Sport Compact victory. Nelson started in the second row and was able to avoid skirmishes early on to roll to a victory. Coming from the fourth row, Andrew Baumgardner of North Platte was able to pull into the runner-up position in the waning laps but that is as far as he could advance, as he settled for second place. Early leader Devin Bjorklund was able to stay among the front runners and score a third place finish.

Unofficial Results:

–IMCA Modified Feature: 1. 81-Mike Densberger, 2. 19-Chuck Stryker, 3. 4c-Charley Brown, 4. 97m-David Murray Jr., 5. 17j-Jeremy Frenier, 6. 3rw-Ronnie Wallace, 7. XII-Jay Steffens, 8. 50c-Colton Osborn, 9. 34jw-Cole Hodges, 10. 4p-Dave Pedersen.

Heat race winners: 50c-Osborn, 81-Densberger.

–IMCA Northern Sport Modified Feature: 1. 87d-Chad Dolan, 2. 11h-Henry Henderson, 3. 12j-Kerry Jones, 4. 1-Paul Donavan, 5. 15k-Jamey Kennicutt, 6. 7a-Steve Aitken, 7. 55d-Dillon Schultz, 8. 13-Terry Dressel, 9. 9-RC Heil, 10. 41g-Justin Gibbens.

Heat race winners: 87d-Dolan, 1-Paul Donavan, 15k-Kennicutt.

–IMCA Stock Car Feature: 1. 63-Mike Nichols, 2. 35jw-Casey Woken, 3. 11k-Kyle Clough, 4. 45-Mikey Dancer, 5. 42w-Kyle Werkmeister, 6. 00-Sara Klein, 7. 561-Kurt Trusty, 8. 24-Bob Chalupa, 9. 09h-Bob Hoing, 10. 47-Russ Small Jr.

Heat race winners: 45-Dancer, 35jw-Woken.

–IMCA Hobby Stock Feature: 1. 22w-Brady Weinman, 2. 22-Austin Davis, 3. 01-Jacob Wolsleben, 4. 88j-Jacob Olmstead, 5. 5-Chuck Ledbetter, 6. 98z-Zach Olmstead, 7. 2c-Tyson Canas, 8. 72b-Jacob Hagan, 9. 1-Tanner Clough, 10. 7s-Scott Gibson.

Heat race winners: 01-Wolsleben, 2c-Canas.

–IMCA Sport Compact Feature: 1. 7-Erik Nelson, 2. 44u-Andrew Baumgardner, 3. 28d-Devin Bjorklund, 4. 67-Alex Fletcher, 5. 33-Andrew McClellen, 6. 67x-Blake Fletcher, 7. 74b-Tristan Barnhill, 8. 057-Cody Schimmer, 9. 19b-Jordan Biere, 10. h0t-Hunter Hoatson.

Heat race winners: 28d-Bjorklund, 44u-Baumgardner.

Registration Opens for Mike Trader’s Mid-America Basketball Camp

Posted on April 13, 2015

Mike Trader’s Annual Mid-America Basketball Camp will conduct five individual sessions this summer. The overnight and commuter camps for boys will be held June 21-24 at Central Community College (Platte Campus) in Columbus, on July 13-16 at Hastings College, and July 19-22 at Doane College. Day Camps will be held for both boys and girls at Grand Island Central Catholic on May 26-29 and July 26-29. In addition, there will be overnight and commuter camps for girls June 21-24 at Central Community College (Platte Campus) in Columbus, on July 13-16 at Hastings College and at Doane on July 19-22.

The individual camp is open to those 8 years old through 11^th grade.

The camp has been one of the most popular camps in the Midwest during the past 29 years with over 30,000 campers having attended during that time.

This camp is well known for its great teaching of fundamental skills and having outstanding coaches from throughout the nation teaching the campers. It combines the teaching of these skills with team play and contests throughout the camp.

The camps will be held at Hastings College, Central Community College in Columbus, Doane College in Crete, and at Grand Island Central Catholic. As mentioned the camp staff will include both top college and prep coaches, all experienced in basketball summer camp work.

For more information and application forms call, write, or e-mail Mike Trader at:

Mike Trader

Box 86

York, Ne 68467

402-960-8011

mtrader@hastings.edu

or check out the camp website at: www.traderscamp.com.

DeZiel, Welk Earn Student-Athlete-of-the-Year Awards

Posted on April 13, 2015

The University of Nebraska Athletic Department celebrated its 25th anniversary of honoring its highest academic, athletic and community achievers with a special red carpet recognition event at the Lied Center for Performing Arts on Sunday evening.

Nebraska’s outstanding student-athletes were recognized for stellar performances in competition, the classroom and the community. In addition to naming its prestigious Student-Athlete-of-the-Year Awards and other annual team and individual accomplishments, Nebraska celebrated the addition of several new awards to honor top performances throughout the past calendar year.

John Welk and Jessie DeZiel captured two of Nebraska’s most coveted awards as the Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year.

Welk, a two-time All-American as part of NU’s 4×100-meter relay team for Coach Gary Pepin’s men’s track and field squad, is also a two-time NCAA Elite 89 award winner. The senior nutrition science major from Bismarck, N.D., held the top grade-point average of any male student-athlete at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in both 2013 and 2014. Welk is also a two-time academic All-Big Ten selection.

Welk is the fifth consecutive Nebraska Male Student-Athlete of the Year from the Husker track and field squad, following Nicholas Gordon (2011), Tyler Hitchler (2012), Bjorn Barrefors (2013) and Seth Wiedel (2014). Overall the men’s track and field program has claimed six Male Student-Athlete-of-the-Year awards, including Aaron Plas (2006), since the award’s inception at Nebraska in 1991. Seven NU women’s track and field student-athletes also have captured the award, giving Coach Pepin’s program 13 of the 50 all-time awards.

DeZiel, a senior from Rogers, Minn., is a seven-time All-American entering next week’s NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships. A 2015 AAI Award nominee, DeZiel is also a three-time NCAA Regional vault champion. A three-time academic All-Big Ten selection as a nutrition and health sciences major, DeZiel became the sixth Husker women’s gymnast to win Nebraska’s Female Student-Athlete-of-the-Year award. She joins Nicole Duval (1995), Shelly Bartlett (1997), Richelle Simpson (2005), Stephanie Carter (2007) and Emily Wong (2014) among the elite women’s gymnasts in the history of Coach Dan Kendig’s program to win the highest honor presented by Nebraska to its student-athletes.

DeZiel and Welk also will win the conference’s most exclusive award as recipients of the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 2015. The award was the first of its kind in intercollegiate athletics to recognize academic and athletic excellence. The Big Ten Medal of Honor was first awarded in 1915 to one student-athlete from the graduating class of each university who had “attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work.” Big Ten schools currently feature more than 9,000 student-athletes, but only 28 earn this prestigious award on an annual basis. In the 100 years of the Medal of Honor, over 1,300 student-athletes have earned this distinction.

In an exciting addition to the annual awards event, Nebraska added a pair of new awards to recognize the top athletic achievements by its student-athletes. Miles Ukaoma, who won the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championship in the 400-meter hurdles, claimed Nebraska’s Best Male Athlete Award. A four-time All-American in the event, Ukaoma added a pair of Big Ten crowns (2012, 2014) in the event while also capturing a Big Ten title as a member NU’s 4×400-meter relay (2013). The native of Maize, Kan., completed his athletic eligibility at Nebraska last season.

Liz Kuhlkin, who led the Nebraska bowling team to its second NCAA team title in the last three seasons over the weekend in St. Louis, captured the Best Female Athlete Award. Kuhlkin, who was the Most Outstanding Bowler at the 2013 NCAA Championships and a member of the 2015 NCAA All-Tournament Team, was named the National Tenpin Coaches Association Player of the Year in 2015. The senior from Schenectady, N.Y., is a three-time first-team NTCA All-American and a two-time academic All-Big Ten selection.

A new scholastic award was also presented with the addition of the Outstanding Scholar Award. Welk was joined in earning that honor by fellow men’s track and field team members Will Lohman and Mark Hilderbrand along with men’s golfer Josh Reinertson. On the women’s side, the Outstanding Scholar Award went to twins Amanda and Jennifer Lauer from the women’s gymnastics program.

Coach Pablo Morales’ Nebraska women’s swimming and diving team captured the Herman Team Grade-Point Average award with a combined GPA of 3.568 for 2014, ending a streak of four straight wins by the women’s tennis program. Coach Kerry McDermott’s Husker tennis team claimed the award on the men’s side with a 3.510 GPA in 2014. The victory by the tennis team also ended a streak of four consecutive wins by the men’s golf program.

The Herman Team Grade-Point Average awards began in 1994 thanks to a generous contribution from Dick and Dale Herman. Dick, who has been a generous contributor across many levels of Nebraska Athletics, especially to the Academic support facilities and Academic recognition events, was presented a special Lifetime Achievement Award at the event.

Coach Chuck Chmelka’s Nebraska men’s gymnastics team and Coach John Walker’s women’s soccer team captured the prestigious Life Skills Awards of Excellence, for their exceptional commitment to NU’s award-winning Life Skills program. The Life Skills program also named five winners across all sports of its most prestigious individual award – the Heart & Soul Award. The Heart & Soul winners were Samantha Areman (Soccer), Devandrew Johnson (Track & Field), Rebekah Land (Swimming & Diving), Ian Ousley (Wrestling) and Desire’ Stephens (Women’s Gymnastics).

In addition to the team awards and the Heart & Soul awards, Life Skills presented 35 of Nebraska’s top all-around student-athletes across all sports with Nebraska Student-Athlete Hero Leadership awards.

Overall, a total of 269 Huskers earned academic medallions at the banquet. Gold medallions (68) were presented to those for highest academic honors (3.75-4.0 grade-point average). Silver medallions (61) were awarded to those for high honors (3.5-3.749 GPA), while bronze medallions (140) were presented to student-athletes with honors (3.0-3.499 GPA).

2015 University Nebraska Athletic/Academic/Life Skills Awards
Male Student-Athlete of the Year – John Welk (Track & Field)
Female Student-Athlete of the Year – Jessie DeZiel (Gymnastics)

Best Male Athlete – Miles Ukaoma (Track & Field)
Best Female Athlete – Liz Kuhlkin (Bowling)

Outstanding Scholar Awards (6)
Mark Hilderbrand (Track & Field)
Will Lohman (Track & Field)
John Welk (Track & Field)
Josh Reinertson (Golf)
Amanda Lauer (Gymnastics)
Jennifer Lauer (Gymnastics)

Heart & Soul Awards (5)
Samantha Areman (Soccer)
Devandrew Johnson (Track & Field)
Rebekah Land (Swimming & Diving)
Ian Ousley (Wrestling)
Desire’ Stephens (Gymnastics)

Men’s Herman Team GPA Award – Tennis (3.510 GPA)
Women’s Herman Team GPA Award – Swimming & Diving (3.568 GPA)

Men’s Life Skills Award of Excellence – Gymnastics
Women’s Life Skills Award of Excellence – Soccer

Lifetime Achievement Award – Dick Herman

Nebraska Student-Athlete Hero Leadership Awards (35)
Freedom Akinmoladun, Football
Landon Bartel, Track & Field
Jourden Casey, Soccer
Davon Clark, Track & Field
Byerson Cockrell, Football
Cassie Deeg, Women’s Golf
Hannah Dittmar, Soccer
Joey Felici, Football
Kelsey Fien, Volleyball
Sarah Firestone, Track & Field
Trey Foster, Football
Levi Gipson, Track & Field
Blake Headley, Baseball
Ciara Jenkins, Swimming & Diving
Collin Jensen, Wrestling
Jacqueline Juffer, Swimming & Diving
Kye Kurkowski, Basketball
Jennie Laeng, Women’s Gymnastics
Will Lohman, Track & Field
Chris Long, Football
Alex Lorentz, Rifle
Ethan Lottman, Men’s Gymnastics
Mackenna Maddox, Women’s Tennis
Cameron Palmer, Men’s Golf
De’Mornay Pierson-El, Football
Esther Ramacieri, Women’s Basketball
Siera Rohde, Track & Field
Chris Schindler, Men’s Tennis
Tristen Sharp, Track & Field
Lotte Sjulin, Softball
Kiki Stokes, Softball
Alney Tobias, Cross Country
Coleman Tokar, Men’s Gymnastics
Jessica Wright, Cross Country
Briana Zabierek, Bowling

Fowler’s Homer off Hawkins gives Cubs 6-5 Win over Rockies

Posted on April 13, 2015

DENVER (AP) — Dexter Fowler hit a two-run homer off LaTroy Hawkins with two outs in the ninth inning, helping the Chicago Cubs rally for a 6-5 win over the Colorado Rockies on a blustery Sunday.

Hawkins (1-1) hung a slider to Fowler, who drove it into the right-field seats. It was the first homer of the season for the former Rockies player.

Neil Ramirez (1-0) earned the win by getting two outs in the eighth. Hector Rondon got his second save of the season as the Cubs won for the second time in the three-game series.

With Colorado leading 5-3, Boone Logan struck out Miguel Montero leading off the ninth, and Hawkins relieved. The 42-year-old walked Arismendy Alcantara, struck out pinch-hitter Mike Olt and allowed an RBI single by pinch-hitter Wellington Castillo.

With the shadows between the mound and home plate, Fowler fell behind 0-2 on a pair of fastballs, then homered.

Faried Scores 30 Points, Nuggets beat Kings 122-111

Posted on April 13, 2015

DENVER (AP) — Kenneth Faried scored a season-high 30 points and the Denver Nuggets spoiled George Karl’s return to Denver, beating the Sacramento Kings 122-111 on Sunday.

Wilson Chandler had 21 points and nine rebounds for the Nuggets in their home finale. At 19-22, Denver had a losing record at Pepsi Center for the first time since 2002-03.

That was two years before Karl arrived and turned around the struggling franchise. He won 423 games in nine seasons on the Denver bench, but was fired after losing in the first round of the 2013 playoffs. The Nuggets won a franchise-record 57 games that season and he was the NBA Coach of the Year, but his team failed to win a postseason series for the eighth time in nine years.

Omri Casspi had 22 points to lead the Kings. Sacramento has lost three straight and eight of nine.

Jordan Spieth Wins Masters at 21 with Record-Tying Score

Posted on April 13, 2015

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Jordan Spieth romped to his first major championship with a record-tying performance at the Masters on Sunday, shooting an 18-under 270 to become the first wire-to-wire winner of the green jacket since 1976.

No one got closer than three shots of the lead all day. Spieth shot a 2-under 70 to hold off Justin Rose and Phil Mickelson.

Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open champion playing in the final group of the major for the first time, and Mickelson were four shots back.

No one else was closer than six.

Spieth became the first Masters champion to lead after every round since Raymond Floyd 39 years ago, and only the fifth in the history of the tournament. And it was a bit of redemption after he played in the final group a year ago making his Augusta debut, building a two-shot lead but fading to a runner-up finish behind Bubba Watson.