Duan, Smith, Huskers in Hunt at Indiana

Bloomington, Ind. - Kate Smith and Alice Duan both provided strong performances in the opening round to put themselves in contention while leading the Nebraska women's golf team against a loaded 16-team field on the first day at the Indiana Spring Invitational on Saturday.

Duan, a graduate transfer from Reno, Nev., fired a season-best 71 (-1) in the opening round to sit in a tie for third heading to the second round. Smith (Detroit Lakes, Minn.), who entered the tournament ranked No. 31 nationally as an individual by GolfStat, added an even-par 72 to end the first 18 holes in a tie for fifth on the 6,254-yard layout of The Pfau Course.

With Duan and Smith leading the way, Nebraska posted the sixth-best team score (294) of the first round in a loaded 16-team field that includes all 14 Big Ten women's golf teams. The Huskers remained in sixth place when play was suspended because of darkness late in the second round.

Freshman Michaela Vavrova (Bojnice, Slovakia) provided Nebraska with a solid opening-round score of 74 (+2), while Megan Whittaker (Elkhorn, Neb.) rounded out NU's team score with a 77 over the first 18 holes.

No. 17 Kent State led the team standings after one round with a 290 (+2), while Maryland sat in second at 291 (+3).

Sunday will start with the conclusion of the second round, before the teams play the final round. Live scoring will be available at GolfStat.com.

Indiana Spring Invitational
Bloomington, Indiana (The Pfau Course)
Par-72, 6,254 Yards
April 17-18, 2021

Team Standings (First Round)
1. (17) Kent State - 290
2. (19) Maryland - 291
T3. (40) Illinois - 292
T3. (41) Michigan State -292
T3. (23) Michigan - 292
6. Nebraska - 294
7. (21) Northwestern - 296
8. Xavier - 299
T9. Penn State - 302
T9. Wisconsin - 302
T11. Ohio State - 304
T11. Minnesota - 304
T13. (42) Purdue - 307
T13. Iowa - 307
15. Indiana - 313
16. Rutgers - 315

Individual Leader Board (First Round)
1. Valery Plata, Michigan State - 69 (-3)
2. Monet Chun, Michigan - 70 (-2)
T3. Alice Duan, Nebraska - 71 (-1)
T3. Maria Vittori Corbi, Maryland - 71 (-1)
T5. Kate Smith, Nebraska - 72 (E)
T5. Claire Fitzgerald, Wisconsin - 72 (E)
T5. Xiaolin Tian, Maryland - 72 (E)
T5. Mayke Hoogeboom, Kent State - 72 (E)
T5. Chloe Salort, Kent State - 72 (E)
T5. Kelly Sim, Northwestern - 72 (E)
T5. Sarah Hauenstein, Illinois - 72 (E)
T5. Crystal Wang, Illinois - 72 (E)

Nebraska Individuals
T3. Alice Duan - 71 (-1)
T5. Kate Smith - 72 (E)
T23. Michaela Vavrova - 74 (+2)
T50. Megan Whittaker - 77 (+5)
T73. Kirsten Baete - 79 (+7)
T95. Lindsey Thiele - 85 (+13)