Takahashi Takes Title in Oklahoma

Miu Takahashi captured her first collegiate tournament title by firing a 69 (-3) on Tuesday to help lead the Nebraska women's golf team to a runner-up finish at the Dale McNamara Invitational in Broken Arrow, Okla.

Takahashi, a sophomore from Nasu-Machi, Japan, entered the final round in a tie for sixth after producing an even-par 144 through two rounds on Monday. Her 69 on Tuesday was the best final round among the 36-hole leaders and allowed her to hold off Tulsa's Lovisa Gunnar for medalist honors.

Takahashi began the day with a par on No. 4, before back-to-back birdies on No. 5 and No. 6 thrust her quickly into title contention. She played steady golf with nine consecutive pars before knocking in back-to-back birdies again on No. 16 and 17. She followed with pars on No. 18, No. 1 and No. 2 before closing out the tournament title with her only bogey of the day on No. 3.

"I'm really happy for Miu," Nebraska Head Coach Jeanne Sutherland said. "She's been working hard on her short game and putting, and it really carried her along today, along with good ball striking, to help her win the event. Overall, our team is doing well because everyone on our team is focused on improving and doing the big and little things to see those improvements. It's been a great joy to coach them, and they are really playing good golf."

While Takahashi took the title, teammate Kelli Ann Strand put together a remarkable round of 69 of her own to tie for third with a three-round total of 215 (-1) just two shots back of Takahashi. Strand, a freshman from Challis, Idaho, opened her round with a birdie on No. 5 and after birdies on No. 9, No. 12 and No. 14, sat at four-under through 10 holes. After a par on No. 15, Strand suffered a bogey on No. 16, before responding with a par on No. 17 and her fifth birdie of the day on No. 18 to return to four-under for the round heading for her final four holes. A double-bogey on No. 1 likely cost Strand a share of medalist honors, however she responded again with a birdie on No. 2 before closing the round with pars on No. 3 and No. 4.

Strand, who began the round in a tie for 12th, vaulted nine spots up the leader board on the final day of the tournament to finish at 215 (-1), which marked her third straight tournament to open her career that she finished better than par. She has played seven of her nine rounds under par to begin her career while notching three consecutive top-five individual tournament finishes.

With Takahashi and Strand leading the way, the Huskers brought home a second-place team finish from the Dale McNamara Invitational for the second consecutive season. This year, the Big Red suffered a one-stroke loss to Tulsa, after falling by 11 strokes to UNLV last season.

Nebraska's tournament performance this week marked its third straight top-two finish to open the 2022-23 season, joining a tournament title at the Badger Invitational in Wisconsin (1st/13 teams, 863) and a runner-up finish at the season-opening Green Wave Classic (2nd/14 teams, 835). The Big Red is 35-2 in head-to-head competition through three tournaments with Tuesday's one-stroke loss to Tulsa and a three-stroke loss to LSU at the Green Wave Classic.

The Huskers (298-291-280=869) began Tuesday's round 14 strokes behind the leaders from South Florida, but outclassed USF by 19 strokes over the final 18 holes. The Big Red began the day 11 strokes back of Tulsa (292-286-290=868) and defeated the Golden Hurricane by 10 strokes (280-290) on Tuesday. The one stroke was enough for Tulsa to hold on for the title.

Strand and Takahashi weren't the only Huskers charging up the leader board on Tuesday. Junior Michaela Vavrova carded her best round of the season with a 70 (-2) to spring 21 spots up the final standings into a tie for 22nd at 223 (+7).

Vavrova tied teammate Megan Whittaker (Elkhorn, Neb.) in 22nd (223) to give the Huskers four golfers in the top 25 in the 75-player event. Whittaker settled for 77 in the final round.

Lindsey Thiele (Wahoo, Neb.) provided the Huskers with their fourth counting score of the day with an even-par 72. Thiele tied for 30th overall with a three-round total of 226 (+10).

Nebraska will be back in action next week as the Huskers take aim at their second straight Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational title. Action begins Monday at 9 a.m. (CT) at the Lawrence Country Club in Kansas.

Dale McNamara Invitational
Cedar Ridge Country Club (Par 72, 6,302 Yards)
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
October 10-11, 2022

Final Team Results
1. Tulsa - 292-286-290=868 (+4)
2. Nebraska - 298-291-280=869 (+5)
3. South Florida - 291-284-299=874 (+10)
T4. Sacramento State - 302-300-284=886 (+22)
T4. North Texas - 292-294-300=886 (+22)
6. UTSA - 303-292-293=888 (+24)
T7. Brigham Young - 307-291-296=894 (+30)
T7. James Madison - 307-285-302=894 (+30)
9. Kansas State - 306-294-297=897 (+33)
10. Boise State - 308-300-304=912 (+48)
11. Sam Houston - 307-300-308=915 (+51)
12. Middle Tennessee - 307-301-308=916 (+52)
13. Oral Roberts - 323-296-318=937 (+73)

Final Individual Results
1. Miu Takahashi, Nebraska - 71-73-69=213 (-3)
2. Lovisa Gunnar, Tulsa - 73-68-73=214 (-2)
T3. Kelli Ann Strand, Nebraska - 76-70-69=215 (-1)
T3. Haley Vargas, Kansas State - 74-69-72=215 (-1)
T3. Audrey Tan, North Texas - 70-72-73=215 (-1)
T6. Camryn Carreon, UTSA - 75-71-71=217 (+1)
T6. Grace Kilcrease, Tulsa - 72-72-73=217 (+1)
T6. Lauren Heinlein, South Florida - 69-73-75=217 (+1)
T6. Melanie Green, South Florida - 73-67-77=217 (+1)
T10. Lilly Thomas, Tulsa - 71-74-73=218 (+2)
T10. Morgan Ellison, UTSA - 75-69-74=218 (+2)  
 
Nebraska Individuals
1. Miu Takahashi - 71-73-69=213 (-3)
T3. Kelli Ann Strand - 76-70-69=215 (-1)
T22. Michaela Vavrova - 78-75-70=223 (+7)
T22. Megan Whittaker - 73-73-77=223 (+7)
T30. Lindsey Thiele - 79-75-72=226 (+10)
*T40. Andrea Velez - 75-78-75=228 (+12)