Megan Whittaker fired a final-round 69 to claim a top-10 individual finish and lead the Nebraska women's golf team to a runner-up showing at the Westbrook Spring Invitational in Peoria, Ariz., on Tuesday.
Whittaker's three-under-par final round on the 6,230-yard layout of the Vistas Course at Westbrook Village Golf Club matched the best round of her career while propelling her to a career-best 54-hole score of 211 (-5). It smashed her previous collegiate best of 215, set at the Dale McNamara Invitational (Oct. 11-12, 2021). Her 211 placed her in a tie for seventh in a strong 81-player field.
The career-best tournament by the senior from Elkhorn, Neb., helped the Huskers chase the team champions from Mississippi State right down to the wire. The Bulldogs, who entered the tournament ranked No. 35 in the nation, closed the tournament with a three-round total of 851 (-13), including a final-round 284 (-4). Nebraska matched Mississippi State stroke-for-stroke on Monday, carding a final-round 284 of its own to finish two shots back at 853 (-11) over the two-day event.
In addition Whittaker's top-10 effort, Nebraska got a top-15 individual performance from Vanessa Bouvet (France/Brunei), who finished at 214 (-2) after a final-round 73. The Huskers also received a third top-20 finish from fifth-year senior Kirsten Baete (Beatrice, Neb.), who put together NU's best round of the day with a four-under-par 68 to close in a tie for 17th at 215 (-1).
"Kirsten and Megan threw up two amazing rounds, and Vanessa battled back in the last stretch," Nebraska Head Coach Lisa Johnson said. "We gave Mississippi State a run in the last six holes. This was truly the best tournament of the year. Husker fans showed up big time to cheer us on. It was a total team effort."
Michaela Vavrova (Slovakia) and Miu Takahashi (Japan) both contributed final rounds of 74 to tie for 30th overall individually at 219 (+3), which was a three-round collegiate best for the freshman Takahashi.
Nebraska's second-place team finish came in a 14-team field that included 12 top-100 teams, including No. 36 UNLV, No. 47 Oklahoma, No. 50 Denver, No. 54 Washington State, No. 55 Ohio State and No. 60 College of Charleston.
The Huskers return to action in two weeks (March 14-15) at the Briar's Creek Invitational hosted by the College of Charleston in John's Island, S.C.
Westbrook Spring Invitational
Feb. 27-28, 2022
Westbrook Village Golf Club (Peoria, Ariz.)
Vistas Course (Par 72, 6,230 Yards)
Final Team Results
1. (35) Mississippi State - 285-282-284=851 (-13)
2. (73) Nebraska - 283-286-284=853 (-11)
3. (36) UNLV - 281-288-292=861 (-3)
4. (88) Kansas - 295-283-285=863 (-1)
5. (50) Denver - 291-292-281=864 (E)
T6. (55) Ohio State - 293-290-282=865 (+1)
T6. (83) Wisconsin - 293-287-285=865 (+1)
T8. (47) Oklahoma - 287-292-289=868 (+4)
T8. (60) College of Charleston - 291-289-288=868 (+4)
10. (72) Notre Dame - 295-286-290=871 (+7)
11. (90) Minnesota - 293-283-296=872 (+8)
12. (54) Washington State - 288-287-302=877 (+13)
13. (104) Kansas State - 292-295-299=886 (+22)
14. (131) Iowa - 297-303-299=899 (+35)
Final Individual Results
1. Julia Lopez Ramirez, Mississippi State - 69-68-68=205 (-11)
2. Kendall Todd, UNLV - 67-70-71=208 (-8)
3. Viktoria Hund, College of Charleston - 71-69-69=209 (-7)
T4. Chloe Schiavone, Notre Dame - 70-70-70=210 (-6)
T4. Libby Winans, Oklahoma - 69-69-72=210 (-6)
T4. Anna Zanusso, Denver - 70-72-68=210 (-6)
T7. Megan Whittaker, Nebraska - 70-72-69=211 (-5)
T7. Lauren Heinlein, Kansas - 74-67-70=211 (-5)
T9. Mackenzie Hahn, Wisconsin - 73-68-71=212 (-4)
T9. Ashley Gilliam, Mississippi State - 72-70-70=212 (-4)
T9. Leah Herzog, Minnesota - 73-70-69=212 (-4)
T9. Chloe Chan, Wisconsin - 72-69-71=212 (-4)
Nebraska Individuals
T7. Megan Whittaker - 70-72-69=211 (-5)
T13. Vanessa Bouvet - 68-72-73=213 (-3)
T17. Kirsten Baete - 73-74-68=215 (-1)
T30. Michaela Vavrova - 76-69-74=219 (+3)
T30. Miu Takahashi - 72-73-74=219 (+3)
Megan Whittaker fired a career-best 211 (-5) to lead Nebraska in Arizona.