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 Invitational
Feb. 25-26, 2024
Peoria, Arizona
Westbrook 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 Individuals
T3. 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)