Huskers Return to Florida for Spartan Sun Coast Invitational – University of Nebraska

The Nebraska women’s golf team returns to Florida for the second time in the spring season to compete in the 13-team Spartan Sun Coast Invitational, Feb. 18-19.

The 54-hole tournament on the Champions Course at the Palm Aire Golf Club in Sarasota begins with the first and second rounds on Sunday, Feb. 18, beginning at 8 a.m. (CT). It concludes with a final round on Monday, Feb. 19 at 8 a.m.

The Huskers will be part of a loaded field on the par-72, 6,191-yard layout at the Palm Aire Golf Club. The 13-team field features 11 current top-75 teams, including No. 24 North Carolina, No. 26 Purdue, No. 31 Michigan State, No. 38 Tennessee, No. 41 Miami, No. 47 Ohio State, No. 53 Oklahoma, No. 55 Kent State, No. 61 NC State, No. 66 Nebraska and No. 67 College of Charleston, while No. 142 South Dakota State and NCAA Division II No. 20 Grand Valley State round out the field. 

Kelli Ann Strand leads Nebraska to Florida. The sophomore from Challis, Idaho, owns a team-best 70.87 stroke average and is ranked No. 107 individually in NCAA Division I. Strand opened the spring with a tie for sixth in a 96-player field at the UCF Challenge in Orlando (Feb. 3-5).

Strand’s three-round total of 210 (-6) helped her claim Big Ten Golfer-of-the-Week honors (Feb. 7). She owns four top-15 finishes in five tournaments this season.

Senior Lindsey Thiele earned her first lineup spot of the year at UCF and was Nebraska’s No. 3 finisher with a 227. Sophomore Sydney Harz moves into the starting lineup in Sarasota after a solid showing with a 228 playing as an individual at UCF.

Senior Michaela Vavrova, who was named the Slovakian Women’s Golfer of the Year last week, returns to the lineup after missing the UCF Challenge. Vavrova owns Nebraska’s second-best stroke average (72.92) on the season.

Spartan Sun Coast Invitational
February 18-19, 2024
Location: Sarasota, Florida
Host: Michigan State
Course: Palm Aire Golf Club (Par 72/6,191 Yards)