Strand, Huskers Take Fifth at Westbrook

Kelli Ann Strand battled for the individual title until the final holes before taking fifth to help the Nebraska women's golf team to a fifth-place finish at the Westbrook Spring Invitational in Peoria, Ariz., Monday.

Strand played outstanding golf again over the final 18 holes, after closing the first 36 holes at 136 (-8) in a tie for third. The sophomore from Challis, Idaho, was five-under through 15 on Monday, including birdies on No. 9, 11, 12, 14 and 15, after beginning her day with five consecutive pars (No. 4-8) in the shotgun start on the 6,248-yard, par-72 layout of the Westbrook Village Golf Club.

She ran into her only blemish of the day on No. 1, settling for a bogey before closing the round with back-to-back pars on No. 2 and 3. She finished the round with a 68 (-4) to close the 54-hole tournament at 204 (-12) in fifth place. It was Strand's second top-five finish of the season and sixth top-15 showing in seven events in 2023-24.

Wisconsin's Chloe Chan earned the individual title with a 202 (-14) that included a final-round 65 (-7) after opening the tournament with a 66 (-8). Jordan Rothman from Kansas, Oklahoma's Savannah Barber  and Colorado State's Andrea Bergsdottir shared runner-up honors at 203 (-13). Rothman closed with back-to-back rounds of 67 (-5), while Barber and Bergsdottir capped their tournaments with a final rounds of 66 (-8).

Kansas took the team title at 821 (-43), while Oklahoma finished second with an 827 (-37). The hosts from Wisconsin took third at 830 (-34), while South Florida snuck ahead of the Huskers late in the final round for a fourth-place finish at 837 (-27). Nebraska finished fifth with a season-best three-round total of 838 (-26) that included wins over eight top-100 teams in the 14-team tournament field, including Kansas State, Colorado State and Minnesota, who were ranked ahead of the Huskers entering the tournament. Nebraska's final-round 278 (-10) matched its best round of the season, joining a 278 in the opening-round of the Sam Golden Invitational (Sept. 11).

Miu Takahashi capped a solid tournament with her three consecutive round better than par with a 71 (-1) on Monday. She tied for 29th with a career-best 211 (-5), just ahead of senior teammate Lindsey Thiele, who tied for 32nd at (212), including a second straight round of 70 (-2) to close the tournament.

Freshman Arden Louchheim added a top-40 finish of her own in the 77-player field, posting a final-round 71 (-1) to end the tournament with a career-best 214 (-2) in a tie for 40th.

Michaela Vavrova, who notched Nebraska's second-best score in the final round with a 69 (-3), completed the Husker contingent in a tie for 62nd at 219 (+3).

The Huskers return to action for the Briar's Creek Invitational in Johns Island, S.C., March 11-12.

Westbrook Spring Invitational
Feb. 25-26, 2024
Peoria, Arizona
Westbrook Village Golf Club (Par 72, 6,248 Yards) 

Final Team Standings
1. (40) Kansas - 277-269-275=821 (-43)
2. (53) Oklahoma - 276-278-273=827 (-37)
3. (76) Wisconsin - 276-284-270=830 (-34)
4. (32) South Florida - 283-282=565 (-11)
5. (67) Nebraska - 279-281-278=838 (-26)
6. (58) Kansas State - 283-277-280=840 (-24)
7. (43) Colorado State - 281-285-278=844 (-20)
8. (52) Minnesota - 292-280-274=846 (-18)
9. (94) Iowa - 288-280-279=847 (-17)
T10. (72) Sam Houston - 279-284-285=848 (-16)
T10. (82) Missouri - 280-280-288=848 (-16)
12. (103) Rutgers - 287-283-281=851 (-13)
13. (87) North Florida - 284-286-284=854 (-10)
14. (86) UNCW - 287-285-289=861 (-3)

Final Individual Standings
1. Chloe Chan, Wisconsin - 66-71-65=202 (-14)
T2. Savannah Barber, Oklahoma - 68-69-66=203 (-13)
T2. Andrea Bergsdottir, Colorado State - 69-68-66=203 (-13)
T2. Jordan Rothman, Kansas - 69-67-67=203 (-13)
5. Kelli Ann Strand, Nebraska - 66-70-68=204 (-12)
T6. Lauren Clark, Kansas - 69-68-68=205 (-11)
T6. Leigha Devine, Rutgers - 72-65-68=205 (-11)
T6. Mallory Fobes, UNCW - 68-69-68=205 (-11)
T6. Melanie Green, South Florida - 71-70-64=205 (-11)
T6. Lily Hirst, Kansas - 68-67-70=205 (-11)

Nebraska Individuals
5. Kelli Ann Strand - 66-70-68=204 (-12)
T29. Miu Takahashi - 71-69-71=211 (-5)
T32. Lindsey Thiele - 72-70-70=212 (-4)
T40. Arden Louchheim - 70-73-71=214 (-2)
T62. Michaela Vavrova - 78-72-69=219 (+3)