Takahashi Takes Title in Oklahoma

Miu Takahashi captured her first collegiate tournament title by firing a 69 (-3) on Tuesday to help lead the Nebraska women’s golf team to a runner-up finish at the Dale McNamara Invitational in Broken Arrow, Okla.

Takahashi, a sophomore from Nasu-Machi, Japan, entered the final round in a tie for sixth after producing an even-par 144 through two rounds on Monday. Her 69 on Tuesday was the best final round among the 36-hole leaders and allowed her to hold off Tulsa’s Lovisa Gunnar for medalist honors.

Takahashi began the day with a par on No. 4, before back-to-back birdies on No. 5 and No. 6 thrust her quickly into title contention. She played steady golf with nine consecutive pars before knocking in back-to-back birdies again on No. 16 and 17. She followed with pars on No. 18, No. 1 and No. 2 before closing out the tournament title with her only bogey of the day on No. 3.

“I’m really happy for Miu,” Nebraska Head Coach Jeanne Sutherland said. “She’s been working hard on her short game and putting, and it really carried her along today, along with good ball striking, to help her win the event. Overall, our team is doing well because everyone on our team is focused on improving and doing the big and little things to see those improvements. It’s been a great joy to coach them, and they are really playing good golf.”

While Takahashi took the title, teammate Kelli Ann Strand put together a remarkable round of 69 of her own to tie for third with a three-round total of 215 (-1) just two shots back of Takahashi. Strand, a freshman from Challis, Idaho, opened her round with a birdie on No. 5 and after birdies on No. 9, No. 12 and No. 14, sat at four-under through 10 holes. After a par on No. 15, Strand suffered a bogey on No. 16, before responding with a par on No. 17 and her fifth birdie of the day on No. 18 to return to four-under for the round heading for her final four holes. A double-bogey on No. 1 likely cost Strand a share of medalist honors, however she responded again with a birdie on No. 2 before closing the round with pars on No. 3 and No. 4.

Strand, who began the round in a tie for 12th, vaulted nine spots up the leader board on the final day of the tournament to finish at 215 (-1), which marked her third straight tournament to open her career that she finished better than par. She has played seven of her…