Huskers Close Gap on Irish in Wisconsin

Megan Whittaker, Kelli Ann Strand and Miu Takahashi all fired rounds better than par to help the Nebraska women's golf team put up the best team round of the tournament (283) and close the gap on Notre Dame heading into the Tuesday's round at the Badger Invitational in Wisconsin.

Notre Dame maintained the top spot in the team standings with a two-round total of 571 (-5), but the Huskers cut the Fighting Irish advantage in half on Monday. The Huskers posted the best score of the day and the tournament thus far with a 283 (-5) to end the second round at 575 (-1), just four strokes behind Notre Dame (284-287-575). Nebraska (292) entered the second round eight strokes back of the Irish (284). The Huskers were also able to add five shots to their cushion in front of third-place Old Dominion (293-288-591), which entered Monday's round just one stroke back of the Big Red. The Huskers own a six-shot edge over the Monarchs heading to the final round.

"We had another good day," Nebraska Head Coach Jeanne Sutherland said. "They are competing well right now and staying in their rounds. We need to clean up some wedges and make some putts, and if we do that it will be within reach."

Whittaker, a fifth-year Husker from Elkhorn, Neb., carded an impressive 69 (-3) on the 6,248-yard layout at the University Ridge Golf Course in Verona. Whittaker moved from a tie for fourth after the opening round into a tie for second at 140 (-4) heading into the final 18 holes. She caught fire in the middle of Monday's round, covering a six-hole span from No. 8 through No. 13 at four-under-par, before closing the round with five consecutive pars. 

Whittaker caught first-round leader Lauren Beaudreau, who opened with a 67 before adding a 73 on Monday. However, Beaudreau's Notre Dame teammate Montgomery Ferreira erupted for the best individual round on Monday with a 66 (-6) to storm from a tie for ninth into sole possession of the lead at 138 (-6).  Ferreira owns a two-shot edge over Whittaker, Beaudreau and Old Dominion's Federica Torre, who carded a sizzling 67 (-5) on Monday.

Husker Kelli Ann Strand (Challis, Idaho) helped the Huskers climb the team leader board by rebounding from an opening-round 77 to match Whittaker's 69 (-3). Strand vaulted from a tie for 50th into a tie for 20th heading to the final round. For the freshman from Challis, Idaho, it was her fourth round better than par in the first five rounds of her career. Strand heated up late in Monday's round, playing the final 10 holes at three-under par. Over the final 11 holes on Monday, Whittaker and Strand combined to go seven-under for the Big Red while playing bogey-free golf.

Sophomore Miu Takahashi (Japan) added a second straight outstanding round for the Big Red, carding a 70 (-2) to climb into the top 10 individually. Takahashi sits in a tie for eighth at 143 (-1) after an opening round of 73 on Sunday. Takahashi's second round included four birdies, 12 pars and a pair of bogeys. 

Junior Lindsey Thiele (Wahoo, Neb.) rounded out Nebraska's count-four lineup with a 75 on Monday. After an opening-round 73 on Sunday, Thiele struggled with five bogeys in her first 10 holes of the second round. However, she recovered with three birdies and four pars while overcoming one more bogey in the final eight holes. She heads to the final round tied for 27th in position to challenge for a top-25 finish along with the other four players in the Husker lineup. Thiele sits at 148 (+4) through two rounds.

Junior Michaela Vavrova (Slovakia) matched Thiele with a 75 on Monday after opening the tournament with a 75 Sunday. Vavrova sits in 39th individually at 150 (+6) through 36 holes. She played Monday's back nine even with two birdies and two bogeys after going three-over on the front to begin the round.

Nebraska closes the Badger Invitational on Tuesday with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Live scoring will be available from GolfStat.com.

Badger Invitational
Madison, Wisconsin
University Ridge Golf Course (Par 72, 6,248 Yards)
Sept. 18-20, 2022

Team Standings (Two Rounds)
1. Notre Dame - 284-287-571 (-5)
2. Nebraska - 292-283-575 (-1)
3. Old Dominion - 293-288-581 (+5)
T4. North Florida - 293-290-583 (+7)
T4. Washington State - 295-288-583 (+7)
6. Colorado State - 295-289-584 (+8)
7. Wisconsin - 296-291-587 (+11)
8. Rutgers - 298-295-593 (+17)
9. UC Davis - 300-296-596 (+20)
10. Delaware - 298-299-597 (+21)
11. Iowa - 298-304-602 (+26)
12. Indiana - 317-295-612 (+36)
13. East Carolina - 313-305-618 (+42)

Individual Leader Board (Two Rounds)
1. Montgomery Ferreira, Notre Dame - 72-66-138 (-6)
T2. Federica Torre, Old Dominion - 73-67-140 (-4)
T2. Megan Whittaker, Nebraska - 71-69-140 (-4)
T2. Lauren Beaudreau, Notre Dame - 67-73-140 (-4)
5. Leigha Devine, Rutgers - 72-69-141 (-3)
T6. Wyndom Burnett, North Florida - 70-72-142 (-2)
T6. Madelyn Jones, Notre Dame - 68-74-142 (-2)
T8. Jinyu Wu, Washington State - 74-69-143 (-1)
T8. Panchalika Arphamongkol, Colorado State - 73-70-143 (-1)
T8. Miu Takahashi, Nebraska - 73-70-143 (-1)

Nebraska Individuals
T2. Megan Whittaker - 71-69-140 (-4)
T8. Miu Takahashi - 73-70-143 (-1)
T20. Kelli Ann Strand - 77-69-146 (+2)
T27. Lindsey Thiele - 73-75-148 (+4)
T39. Michaela Vavrova - 75-75-150 (+6)
*T46. Andrea Velez - 76-76-152 (+8)
* competed as an individual outside the Husker lineup