Huskers Close Gap on Irish in Wisconsin

Megan Whittaker, Kelli Ann Strand and Miu Takahashi all fired rounds better than par to help the Nebraska women’s golf team put up the best team round of the tournament (283) and close the gap on Notre Dame heading into the Tuesday’s round at the Badger Invitational in Wisconsin.

Notre Dame maintained the top spot in the team standings with a two-round total of 571 (-5), but the Huskers cut the Fighting Irish advantage in half on Monday. The Huskers posted the best score of the day and the tournament thus far with a 283 (-5) to end the second round at 575 (-1), just four strokes behind Notre Dame (284-287-575). Nebraska (292) entered the second round eight strokes back of the Irish (284). The Huskers were also able to add five shots to their cushion in front of third-place Old Dominion (293-288-591), which entered Monday’s round just one stroke back of the Big Red. The Huskers own a six-shot edge over the Monarchs heading to the final round.

Whittaker, a fifth-year Husker from Elkhorn, Neb., carded an impressive 69 (-3) on the 6,248-yard layout at the University Ridge Golf Course in Verona. Whittaker moved from a tie for fourth after the opening round into a tie for second at 140 (-4) heading into the final 18 holes. She caught fire in the middle of Monday’s round, covering a six-hole span from No. 8 through No. 13 at four-under-par, before closing the round with five consecutive pars. 

Whittaker caught first-round leader Lauren Beaudreau, who opened with a 67 before adding a 73 on Monday. However, Beaudreau’s Notre Dame teammate Montgomery Ferreira erupted for the best individual round on Monday with a 66 (-6) to storm from a tie for ninth into sole possession of the lead at 138 (-6).  Ferreira owns a two-shot edge over Whittaker, Beaudreau and Old Dominion’s Federica Torre, who carded a sizzling 67 (-5) on Monday.

Husker Kelli Ann Strand (Challis, Idaho) helped the Huskers climb the team leader board by rebounding from an opening-round 77 to match Whittaker’s 69 (-3). Strand vaulted from a tie for 50th into a tie for 20th heading to the final round. For the freshman from Challis, Idaho, it was her fourth round better than par in the first five…