Huskers Open Spring Season at UCF Challenge – University of Nebraska

(Updated with schedule changes due to weather, Feb. 2, 3 p.m.)

The Nebraska women’s golf team opens its 2024 spring season by traveling to Florida for the UCF Challenge, Feb. 3-6. 

The 54-hole tournament at the Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando begins with a first-round shotgun start at 11 a.m. (CT) on Saturday, Feb. 3. The tournament is expected to pause on Sunday with no play because of the forecast of inclement weather. The second round will be schedule for a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start on Monday, befoe Tuesday’s final round also begins with a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m.

Live scoring for the UCF Challenge will be available through GolfStat.com.

The Huskers will be part of a large and strong field on the par-72, 6,367-yard layout at the Eagle Creek Golf Club. The 18-team field features 16 current top-100 teams led by the hosts from No. 13 UCF, No. 14 Northwestern, No. 28 North Carolina, No. 29 Michigan State, No. 35 Kentucky, No. 36 North Texas, No. 37 Virginia Tech, No. 46 Kansas, No. 48 Miami, No. 51 Iowa State, No. 52 Texas Tech, No. 57 Kent State, No. 61 Nebraska, No. 78 College of Charleston, No. 97 Old Dominion and No. 99 UNCW. No. 108 Penn State and No. 125 Central Arkansas round out the field. 

Kelli Ann Strand leads Nebraska to Florida after a strong fall campaign. The sophomore from Challis, Idaho, owns a team-best 71.08 stroke average and is ranked No. 113 individually in NCAA Division I.

Miu Takahashi, who was the first international golfer in history to be named the Nebraska Amateur of the Year in November, will play out of the No. 2 spot in the Husker lineup in Orlando. 

Arden Louchheim is also eager to get back on the course for the Big Red. The true freshman from Park City, Utah posted a 76.25 stroke average during the fall while competing in all 12 rounds in the Husker lineup.

Junior Andrea Velez (Pereira, Colombia) and senior Lindsey Thiele (Wahoo, Neb.) complete the top five in the Husker lineup. Velez made one lineup appearance in the fall, while Thiele played once as an individual outside Nebraska’s top five. 

Redshirt freshman Sydney Harz (Freiburg, Germany) will play as an individual at UCF.

UCF Challenge
Feb 4-6, 2024
Orlando, Florida (Host: UCF)
Eagle Creek Golf Club (Par 72/6,367 Yards)

Schedule
Sunday, Feb. 4 (Round 1) – 8 a.m. (CT) (Tee Times)
Monday, Feb. 5 (Round 2) – 8 a.m. (CT) (Tee Times)
Tuesday, Feb. 6 (Round 3) – 7:45 a.m. (CT) (Shotgun)
Live Scoring: GolfStat

Participating Teams (18)
Central Arkansas, College of…