Strand Leads Huskers on First Day at Briar’s Creek – University of Nebraska

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 Challenge
March 11-12, 2024
Johns Island, South Carolina
Briar’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….