Huskers Take Team Title in California – University of Nebraska

Lauren Thiele and Hannah Kono earned top-five finishes to lead six Huskers among the top-16 individuals and power the Nebraska women’s golf team to the MSU SoCal Spring Invitational championship in Camarillo, Calif., Tuesday.

The victory, which gave the Huskers their third consecutive top-five tournament finish of the spring, marked Nebraska’s first team title since capturing the Westbrook Spring Invitational championship, Feb. 26-27, 2023.

Thiele, a redshirt junior from Wahoo, Neb., produced the best tournament of her career with an even-par 213 over 54 holes to bring home runner-up honors on the 5,900-yard, par-71 layout at the Sterling Hills Golf Club. Thiele’s tournament featured a career-best 67 (-4) in Monday’s second round, including an eagle on the 436-yard, par-5 16th hole. She opened the tournament with a 75 (+4) on Sunday.

Kono, a junior from Enkoping, Sweden, put together a stellar round of 68 (-3) that included an eagle of her own on the par-4, 329-yard 6th hole Tuesday. She added birdies on No. 15 and 18 to go along with 15 pars and a bogey to cap a three-round total of 216 (+3) for a fourth-place finish.

With Thiele and Kono leading the charge, the Huskers totaled 862 (+10) to run away with the team title by 13 strokes ahead of runner-up Notre Dame at 875 (+23). Cal State Northridge took third at 880 (+28), while Cal State Bakersfield finished fourth at 895 (+43).

Lincoln native Olivia Lovegrove added a top-10 finish while playing as an individual outside the Husker lineup. The Lincoln Christian graduate fired a final-round 70 (-1) to close with a three-round total of 218 (+5) in a tie for seventh place.

Redshirt junior Symran Shah added the best tournament performance of her college career with a tie for 10th at 219 (+6). Shah’s effort was highlighted by an even-par 71 in Monday’s second round, after carding Nebraska’s best score of the opening round on Sunday with a 72 (+1).

Freshmen Ailis Tribolet and Kaleigh Babineaux also continued their solid play early in the spring. Tribolet notched her fourth consecutive top-25 finish by tying for 13th at 220 (+7) with solid rounds of 73, 73 and 74.

Babineaux, who produced her sixth consecutive top-25 showing, added a tie for 16th at 221 (+8), including back-to-back rounds of 72 (+1) to close the tournament.

The Huskers will be back in action at the Mountain View Collegiate in Tucson, Ariz., March 20-22.

Nebraska Individual Results
2. Lauren Thiele – 75-67-70=212 (-1)
4. Hannah Kono – 75-73-68=216…