Strand Climbs Into Top Five at UCF

Kelli Ann Strand shot a four-under-par 68 on Sunday to climb into the top five with a 36-hole score of 138 (-6) through two rounds at the UCF Challenge in Orlando.

Strand, a sophomore from Challis, Idaho, recorded four birdies and 14 pars in a solid second round on the par-72, 6,367-yard layout at the Eagle Creek Golf Club. Her performance allowed her to move up four spots from a tie for eighth in a 96-player field after Saturday's opening round. 

Strand also cut the gap from the top spot in the tournament standings in half, as Texas Tech's Lauren Zaretsky managed a 71 (-1) on Sunday following a sizzling 64 (-8) on Saturday. At nine-under-par through 36 holes, Zaretsky owns a narrow one-shot lead over UCF's Molly Smith (68-68) and North Carolina's Megan Streicher (64-72), who are tied for second at 136 (-8). 

Strand is in a three-way tie for fourth with Kentucky's Laney Frye (72-66) and UNCW's Victoria Levy (69-69) at 138 heading into Monday's final round, which is scheduled for a 7:30 a.m. (CT) shotgun start.

Although Strand moved up the leader board, the Huskers slipped two spots in the team standings on Sunday despite posting a 294 (+6) after Saturday's opening-round 295 (+7).  Nebraska sits in 15th place with a two-round total of 589 (+13) in the 18-team field that features 16 top-100 teams. 

North Carolina maintained its hold on the top spot in the team race with a second-round 280 (-8) to enter Monday's final round at 559 (-17). The Tar Heels own an eight-stroke lead over No. 48 Miami, which matched North Carolina's 280 on Sunday to close the day at 567 (-9).

Junior Miu Takahashi (Nasu-Machi, Japan) put together Nebraska's second-best round on Sunday with a 74 (+2). She enters the final round in a tie for 43rd at 147 (+3).

Senior Lindsey Thiele (Wahoo, Neb.) added a second-round 75 (+3) to her opening-round 79 (+7) to enter Monday in a tie for 83rd at 154 (+10).

Junior Andrea Velez (Pereira, Colombia) closed out the scoring for the Huskers with a 77 (+5). She heads to the final round in a tie for 90th at 157 (+13).

Freshman Arden Louchheim (Park City, Utah), who carded a 73 on Saturday, settled for an 80 on Sunday to complete Nebraska's lineup. She is tied for 74th.

Sydney Harz (Freiburg, Germany), who is playing as an individual outside Nebraska's lineup, shot a 78 (+6) to complete her second round in a tie for 86th at 155 (+11).

Weather has affected the schedule in Orlando but the teams have completed the first 36 holes a day ahead of schedule and will try to close the tournament on Monday.

UCF Challenge
Feb. 3-5, 2024
Orlando, Fla.
Eagle Creek Golf Card (Par 72/6,367 Yards)

Team Standings (Two Rounds)
1. (28) North Carolina - 279-280=559 (-17)
2. (48) Miami - 287-280=567 (-9)
3. (78) College of Charleston - 282-289=571 (-5)
4. (46) Kansas - 287-285=572 (-4)
T5. (14) Northwestern - 290-284=574 (-2)
T5. (13) UCF - 290-284=574 (-2)
7. (99) UNCW - 290-286=576 (E)
8. (37) Virginia Tech - 289-289=578 (+2)
9. (35) Kentucky - 286-293=579 (+3)
10. (29) Michigan State - 293-287=580 (+4)
11. (57) Kent State - 291-290=581 (+5)
T12. (51) Iowa State - 298-286=584 (+8)
T12. (36) North Texas - 298-286=584 (+8)
14. (52) Texas Tech - 293-294=587 (+11)
15. (61) Nebraska - 295-294=589 (+13)
16. (108) Penn State - 302-295=597 (+21)
T17. (125) Central Arkansas - 307-305=612 (+36)
T17. (97) Old Dominion - 308-304=612 (+36)

Individual Standings (Two Rounds)
1. Lauren Zaretsky, Texas Tech - 64-71=135 (-9)
T2. Molly Smith, UCF - 68-68=136 (-8)
T2. Megan Streicher, North Carolina - 64-72=136 (-8)
T4. Laney Frye, Kentucky - 72-66=138 (-6)
T4. Kelli Ann Strand, Nebraska - 70-68=138 (-6)
T4. Victoria Levy, UNCW - 69-69=138 (-6)
7. Lily Hirst, Kansas - 68-71=139 (-5)
T8. Sara Byrne, Miami - 70-70=140 (-4)
T8. Katie Lu, Michigan State - 70-70=140 (-4)
T8. Adrian Anderson, College of Charleston - 68-72=140 (-4)

Nebraska Individuals
T4. Kelli Ann Strand - 70-68=138 (-6)
T43. Miu Takahashi - 73-74=147 (+3)
T74. Arden Louchheim - 73-80=153 (+9)
T83. Lindsey Thiele - 79-75=154 (+10)
*T86. Sydney Harz - 77-78=155 (+11)
T90. Andrea Velez - 80-77=157 (+13)

*competing as an individual outside Nebraska's lineup