Kelli Ann Strand opened with a season-best-tying 66 (-6) to lead a strong all-around effort for the Nebraska women’s golf team on the first day of the Westbrook Spring Invitational in Peoria, Ariz., Sunday.
Strand, a sophomore from Challis, Idaho, added a second-round 70 (-2) to end the first 36 holes in a tie for third at 136 (-8). She sits just two strokes back of Kansas State’s Carla Bernat, who is alone atop the leader board at 134 (-10). Lily Hirst from Kansas is just one shot back of Bernat in second at 135 (-9), while Strand finds herself in a three-way tie for third with Missouri’s Melanie Walker and KU’s Jordan Rothman.
The Huskers, who are in a four-way tie for third in the team standings with a two-round total of 560 (-16), also got two solid rounds from Miu Takahashi. The junior from Nasu-Machi, Japan followed her opening-round 71 (-1) with a season-best-tying 69 (-3) in the second round to close the day in a tie for 22nd at 140 (-4) on the par-72, 6,248-yard layout of the Westbrook Village Golf Club.
Lindsey Thiele continued her solid start to the spring with rounds of 72 and 70 close her day at 142 (-2) in tie for 32nd in the 77-player field in Arizona. The senior from Wahoo, Neb., is coming off a top-10 finish at the Spartan Sun Coast Invitational.
Arden Louchheim contributed to Nebraska’s team score with an opening-round 70 (-2), before adding a second-round 73. The freshman from Park City, Utah enters Monday’s final round in a tie for 39th at 143 (-1).
Senior Michaela Vavrova (Bojnice, Slovakia) settled for a 78 in the opening round, but bounced back to contribute to Nebraska’s second round team score with an even-par 72. She sits in a tie for 73rd at 150 after 36 holes.
Kansas takes the top spot into Monday with a two-round total of 546 (-30) after rounds of 277 and 269. Big 12 rival Oklahoma is eight shots back at 554 (-22), while Nebraska, the hosts from Wisconsin, Missouri and Kansas State are tied for third at 560 (-16).
The tournament concludes with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. (CT) on Monday, with live scoring available from Golfstat.
Westbrook Spring InvitationalFeb. 25-26, 2024Peoria, ArizonaWestbrook Village Golf Club (Par 72, 6,248 Yards)
Team Standings (Two Rounds)1. Kansas – 277-269=546 (-30)2. Oklahoma – 276-278=554 (-22)T3. Wisconsin – 276-284=560 (-16)T3. Kansas State – 283-277=560 (-16)T3. Missouri – 280-280=560 (-16)T3. Nebraska – 279-281=560 (-16)7. Sam Houston – 279-284=563 (-13)8. South Florida – 283-282=565 (-11)9. Colorado State – 281-285=566 (-10)10. Iowa – 288-280=568 (-8)T11. North Florida – 284-286=570 (-6)T11. Rutgers – 287-283=570 (-6)T13. Minnesota – 292-280=572 (-4)T13. UNCW – 287-285=572 (-4)
Individual Standings (Two Rounds)1. Carla Bernat, Kansas State – 68-66=134 (-10)2. Lily Hirst, Kansas – 68-67=135 (-9)T3. Melanie Walker, Missouri – 70-66=136 (-8)T3. Jordan Rothman, Kansas – 69-67=136 (-8)T3. Kelli Ann Strand, Nebraska – 66-70=136 (-8)T6. Leigha Devine, Rutgers – 72-65=137 (-7)T6. Andrea Bergsdottir, Colorado State – 69-68=137 (-7)T6. Lauren Clark, Kansas – 69-68=137 (-7)T6. Savannah Barber, Oklahoma – 68-69=137 (-7)T6. Mallory Forbes, UNCW – 68-69=137 (-7)T6. Chloe Chan, Wisconsin – 66-71=137 (-7)
Nebraska IndividualsT3. Kelli Ann Strand – 66-70=136 (-8)T22. Miu Takahashi – 71-69=140 (-4)T32. Lindsey Thiele – 72-70-142 (-2)T39. Arden Louchheim – 70-73=143 (-1)T73. Michaela Vavrova – 78-72=150 (+6)
