Huskers Surge at Big Ten Championship

Kelli Ann Strand produced another strong round to climb into the individual top 10, helping the Nebraska women’s golf team surge into the top five after 36 holes at the Big Ten Championship in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Strand carded a one-over-par 72 on the 6,045-yard layout of the Fox Chapel Golf Club on Saturday to close the second round at 146 (+4) through two rounds. The freshman from Challis, Idaho registered 11 pars along with three birdies and four bogeys to move into a tie for 10th on the leader board heading to Sunday’s final round.

The Big Red also got a boost from Miu Takahashi, who matched Strand’s round with a 72 of her own. The sophomore from Nasu-machi, Japan also had 11 pars, three birdies and four bogeys after being knocked out of Friday’s first round by illness.

With Strand and Takahashi leading the way, the Huskers ended the day with a 294 (+10), pushing their two-round total to 594 (+26). Nebraska, which entered the round in eighth place, climbed into fifth heading to the final round.

Juniors Lindsey Thiele (Wahoo, Neb.) and Michaela Vavrova (Bojnice, Slovakia) produced Nebraska’s other counting scores of the day with matching rounds of 75 (+4).

Thiele, who ended the day in a tie for 21st at 149 (+7), posted 13 pars, one birdie, three bogeys and one double-bogey in a steady round.

Vavrova added 12 pars and a birdie to go with five bogeys to end the round in a tie for 45th at 153 (+11).

Graduate student Megan Whittaker (Elkhorn, Neb.) managed a round of 77 (+6) to close the day in a tie for 47th at 154 (+12), just one shot behind Vavrova. Sophomore Andrea Velez (Pereira, Colombia) rounded out Nebraska’s day with an 81 (+10) to sit in a tie for 62nd at 156.

Ohio State put up the best round of the tournament so far with a 285 (+1) to take over the top spot in the team standings at 577 (+9). Illinois slipped to second with a 292 (+8) on Saturday to head to Sunday’s final 18 holes at 578 (+10), just one shot back of the Buckeyes. Northwestern added a strong round with a 286 (+2) to sit in a tie for third at 581 (+13) with Maryland. The Terrapins totaled 287 (+3) on Saturday.

Illinois teammates Crystal Wang and Isabel Sy sit atop the individual leaders at 139 (-3) through two rounds, while Northwestern’s Kelly Sim sits two shots back in third at 141 (-1). Although Wang, Sy and Kim are the only players under par…