Husker Trio Named B1G Golfers to Watch

Nebraska seniors Kate Smith and Haley Thiele along with sophomore Vanessa Bouvet were recognized as Big Ten Women's Golfers to Watch by the conference on Wednesday, Aug. 28.

Smith, a fourth-year starter in the Husker lineup from Detroit Lakes, Minn., has been a leader on the course for Nebraska each of the past three seasons. Last year, her 73.52 stroke average set the Husker record for the third consecutive season, following a 73.66 average as a sophomore and a 73.90 average as a true freshman when she qualified for the 2017 NCAA Columbus Regional. Entering her final season on the course at Nebraska, Smith owns 13 career top-10 tournament finishes and a school-record 73.70 career stroke average.

Thiele, a fifth-year senior from Wahoo, Neb., enjoyed a bounce-back season in 2018-19 after struggling with injuries in 2016-17 and 2017-18. Thiele posted a 76.93 stroke average last season and has expanded her role as leader for the Huskers on and off the course. A three-time WGCA Scholastic All-American, Thiele is also a four-time member of Nebraska's Tom Osborne Citizenship Team.

Bouvet joined Nebraska's Golfers to Watch after a strong first season for the Huskers. The sophomore from Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, produced a 75.79 stroke average for the third-best average by a freshman in school history. She posted a pair of top-five tournament finishes as a freshman, including a runner-up performance at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational and a third-place finish at the Ptarmigan Ram Fall Classic to open her career.

First-year Nebraska Coach Lisa Johnson and the Huskers open the 2019-20 season at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M., Sept. 9-10.