Strand Climbs Into Top Five at UCF – University of Nebraska

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…