Strand Opens Spring with 70 in Orlando

[Weather Update: With a change in the forecast, Sunday's round will start at noon (CT)]

Kelli Ann Strand fired a two-under-par 70 in the opening round to lead the Nebraska women's golf team at the UCF Challenge in Orlando on Saturday.

Strand, a sophomore from Challis, Idaho, recorded four birdies to overcome a pair of bogeys and close the first 18 holes of Nebraska's spring season in a tie for eighth individually in a 96-player field on the par-72, 6,367-yard layout at the Eagle Creek Golf Club.

Junior Miu Takahashi (Nasu-Machi, Japan) and freshman Arden Louchheim (Park City, Utah) both added rounds of 73 (+1) to help the Huskers post a 295 (+7) team score on Saturday. Nebraska ended the first round in 13th place in the loaded 18-team field. Takahashi and Louchheim enter Monday's second round tied for 32nd.

Lindsey Thiele (Wahoo, Neb.) completed Nebraska's team score in the five-count-four format with a 79 (+7), while Andrea Velez completed NU's lineup with an 80 (+8).

Sydney Harz managed an opening-round 77 (+5) while playing as an individual outside Nebraska's lineup.

No. 28 North Carolina closed the opening round atop the team standings with a 279 (-9), led by Megan Streicher's 64 (-8). Streicher, who carded birdies on seven of nine holes to record a 28 (-7) on the front nine, is tied for first with Lauren Zaretsky from Texas Tech. Zaretsky recorded eight birdies and 10 pars in a spectacular round.

The Tar Heels sit three strokes in front of No. 78 College of Charleston at 282 (-6), while No. 35 Kentucky heads to the second round in third at 286 (-2) in a field that features 16 top-100 teams.

The expected weather in Orlando area is heading north sooner than expected, so Sunday's round is scheduled to start at noon (CT). The scheduled round for Monday could be affected by weather, but is currently set for 7:30 a.m. (CT).

UCF Challenge
Feb. 3-6, 2024
Orlando, Fla.
Eagle Creek Golf Card (Par 72/6,367 Yards)

Team Standings (One Round)
1. (28) North Carolina - 279 (-9)
2. (78) College of Charleston - 282 (-6)
3. (35) Kentucky - 286 (-2)
T4. (48) Miami - 287 (-1)
T4. (46) Kansas - 287 (-1)
6. (37) Virginia Tech - 289 (+1)
T7. (14) Northwestern - 290 (+2)
T7. (99) UNCW - 290 (+2)
T7. (13) UCF - 290 (+2)
10. (57) Kent State - 291 (+3)
T11. (52) Texas Tech - 293 (+5)
T11. (29) Michigan State - 293 (+5)
13. (61) Nebraska - 295 (+7)
T14. (51) Iowa State - 298 (+10)
T14. (36) North Texas - 298 (+10)
16. (108) Penn State - 302 (+14)
17. (125) Central Arkansas - 307 (+19)
18. (97) Old Dominion - 308 (+20)

Individual Standings (One Round)
T1. Lauren Zaretsky, Texas Tech - 64 (-8)
T1. Megan Streicher, North Carolina - 64 (-8)
T3. Lily Horst, Kansas - 68 (-4)
T3. Molly Smith, UCF - 68 (-4)
T3. Adrian Anderson, College of Charleston - 68 (-4)
T6. Victoria Levy, UNCW - 69 (-3)
T6. Hester Sicking, Kent State - 69 (-3)
T8. Kelli Ann Strand, Nebraska - 70 (-2)
T8. Sara Byrne, Miami - 70 (-2)
T8. Katie Lu, Michigan State - 70 (-2)
T8. Jensen Castle, Kentucky - 70 (-2)
T8. Jennifer Cai, Northwestern - 70 (-2)
T8. Cathryn Brown, Kentucky - 70 (-2)

Nebraska Individuals
T8. Kelli Ann Strand - 70 (-2)
T32. Miu Takahashi - 73 (+1)
T32. Arden Louchheim - 73 (+1)
*T73. Sydney Harz - 77 (+5)
89. Lindsey Thiele - 79 (+7)
T90. Andrea Velez - 80 (+8)