Story by NU Athletic Communications
Kelly Ann Strand fired rounds of 71 and 74 to close the opening day of the Briar's Creek Challenge in a tie for 15th to lead the Nebraska women's golf team in Johns Island, S.C., on Monday.
Strand, a sophomore from Challis, Idaho, began the day with a steady round of 71 that featured two birdies and 15 pars along with a single bogey on No. 16. Her second round included a birdie and 14 more pars, but also included a trio of bogeys. Her two-round total of 145 (+1) was good for a tie for 15th. She is just five strokes outside the top four players in a tight 104-player field.
With Strand leading the way, the Huskers enter Tuesday's final round in 11th place in a 17-team field filled with top-100 teams.
Junior Miu Takahashi added back-to-back rounds of 74 (+2) to close the day at 148 (+4) in a tie for 35th. Freshman Arden Louchheim contributed counting rounds to both of Nebraska's team scores by carding an opening-round 78 (+6) and a second-round 75 (+3). She ended the day at 153 (+9) in a tie for 67th with senior teammate Michaela Vavrova.
Vavrova opened with a 73 (+1) for Nebraska's second-best round of the day, before settling for an 80 in the second round.
Senior Lindsey Thiele contributed to the Husker team score with a 75 (+3) in the second round after opening the day with an 80. Thiele is tied for 77th individually at 155 (+11).
The Huskers managed team scores of 296 and 298 to head to the final round at 594 (+18) on the par-72, 6,152-yard layout of the Briar's Creek Golf Club.
Michigan State sits atop the team standings at 566 (-10) after rounds of 282 and 284. Illinois is six shots back in second at 572, while Rutgers is 15 strokes behind the Spartans in third at 581 (+5).
Michigan State's Katie Lu owns the top spot on the individual leader board at 136 (69-67), one shot ahead of Isabel Sy from Illinois (137) and two strokes in front of Spartan teammate Brooke Biermann in third (138).
Tuesday's final round at Briar's Creek begins with a shotgun start at 7:45 a.m. (CT). Live scoring from GolfStat will be available on Huskers.com.
Briar's Creek ChallengeMarch 11-12, 2024Johns Island, South CarolinaBriar's Creek Golf Club (Par 72, 6,152 Yards)
Team Standings (Two Rounds)1. Michigan State - 284-282=566 (-10)2. Illinois - 284-288=572 (-4)3. Rutgers - 291-290=581 (+5)4. UCF - 301-281=582 (+6)5. Florida - 290-293=583 (+7)6. NC State - 291-293-584 (+8)7. Boston College - 294-292=586 (+10)8. Purdue - 294-293=587 (+11)9. Campbell - 285-306=591 (+15)10. Miami - 294-298=592 (+16)11. Nebraska - 296-298=594 (+18)12. Georgetown - 293-302=595 (+19)13. College of Charleston - 305-293=598 (+22)14. Maryland - 299-300=599 (+23)15. Penn State - 305-296=601 (+25)16. Wisconsin - 299-304=603 (+27)17. Old Dominion - 297-309=606 (+30)
Individual Standings (Two Rounds)1. Katie Lu, Michigan State - 69-67=136 (-8)2. Isabel Sy, Illinois - 67-70=137 (-7)3. Brooke Biermann, Michigan State - 68-70=138 (-6)T4. Ines Archer, Florida - 70-70=140 (-4)T4. Leigha Devine, Rutgers - 69-71=140 (-4)6. Jade Gu, Purdue - 70-71=141 (-3)T7. Pimpisa Sisutham, UCF - 74-68=142 (-2)T7. Lexanne Halama, Illinois - 73-69=142 (-2)T7. Emily Bohrer, Boston College - 71-71=142 (-2)T10. Lauren Olivares Leon, NC State - 74-69=143 (-1)T10. Lucrezia Rossettin, Rutgers - 72-71=143 (-1)T10. Jasmine Kahler, Purdue - 72-71=143 (-1)
Nebraska IndividualsT15. Kelli Ann Strand - 71-74=145 (+1)T35. Miu Takahashi - 74-74=148 (+4)T67. Arden Louchheim - 78-75=153 (+9)T67. Michaela Vavrova - 73-80=153 (+9)T77. Lindsey Thiele - 80-75=155 (+11)*T98. Brooke Bream - 85-76=161 (+17)
* competing as an individual outside Nebraska's lineup