Huskers Play Well in First Round in Vegas

Kate Smith and Vanessa Bouvet each fired one-under-par rounds of 71, while Noor Ahmed added an even-par 72 to lead the Nebraska women's golf team to a solid start at the UNLV Collegiate Showdown in Boulder City, Nevada on Sunday.

Smith, a junior from Detroit Lakes, Minn., sank five birdies on the day to offset a pair of bogeys and one double-bogey to close the first 18 holes at Boulder Creek Golf Club in a tie for 13th individually at 71.

Bouvet, a true freshman from Brunei, dropped in four birdies in her round to go along with an eagle on the par-five second hole to offset a pair of double-bogeys and a bogey to notch a 71 of her own. Bouvet heads to Monday's second round in a tie with Smith and 11 other players in 13th.

Ahmed, a sophomore from Folsom, Calif., produced her best round of the fall season with her 72. Ahmed carded six birdies in the round, including three straight on holes 1, 2 and 3, while shooting a 34 on the front nine. Ahmed is tied for 26th heading into the second round.

Junior Haley Thiele managed a four-over 76 to give Nebraska its fourth counting score of the round. The Huskers produced a two-over-par team score of 290 to sit in a tie for seventh with the hosts from UNLV in the 17-team field after the opening round.

Oregon State fired the best team round of the day with an eight-under 280, while Tulsa and Long Beach State are tied for second at 284. Tulsa's Olivia Jackson put up the best individual round of the day with a six-under 66. Oregon State's Ellie Slama and Augusta's Maggie Ashmore are tied for second at 67.

The Huskers will continue their stay at the UNLV Collegiate Showdown with Monday's second round, which is scheduled to begin with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. (CT).

UNLV Collegiate Showdown
Oct. 21-23, 2018
Boulder Creek Golf Club (Boulder City, Nevada)
Par 72, 6,343 Yards

Team Leaderboard (First Round)
1. Oregon State - 280 (-8)
T2. Tulsa - 284 (-4)
T2. Long Beach State - 284 (-4)
T4. Augusta - 286 (-2)
T4. Idaho - 286 (-2)
6. San Francisco - 288 (E)
T7. Nebraska - 290 (+2)
T7. UNLV - 290 (+2)
T9. Colorado State - 291 (+3)
T9. Fresno State - 291 (+3)
11. Nevada - 292 (+4)
T12. UC Riverside - 296 (+8)
T12. Northern Arizona - 296 (+8)
14. Oral Roberts - 297 (+9)
T15. Minnesota - 299 (+11)
T15. Portland State - 299 (+11)
17. UC Irvine - 305 (+17)

Individual Leaderboard (First Round)
1. Olivia Jackson, Tulsa - 66 (-6)
T2. Ellie Slama, Oregon State - 67 (-5)
T2. Maggie Ashmore, Augusta - 67 (-5)
T4. Euna Pak, Long Beach State - 69 (-3)
T4. Lorena Tseng, Tulsa - 69 (-3)
T4. Brigitte Thibault, Fresno State - 69 (-3)
T4. Pearl Rojanapeansatith, San Francisco - 69 (-3)
T8. Katrina Prendergast, Colorado State - 70 (-2)
T8. Maria Davis, Long Beach State - 70 (-2)
T8. Jessica Sloot, Colorado State - 70 (-2)
T8. Mari Nishiura, Oregon State - 70 (-2)
T8. Danielle Richman, Fresno State - 70 (-2)

Nebraska Individuals
T13. Vanessa Bouvet - 71 (-1)
T13. Kate Smith - 71 (-1)
T26. Noor Ahmed - 72 (E)
T63. Haley Thiele - 76 (+4)
T74. Kirsten Baete - 77 (+5)
*T80. Megan Whittaker - 79 (+7)
*competing as an individual outside the Nebraska lineup