Huskers Add Three Talented Midwest Golfers

Lincoln - Nebraska Head Coach Jeanne Sutherland will welcome three high school golfers from the Midwest for the 2024-25 season, after the Huskers announced their most recent women's golf signees on Wednesday.

Eden Lohrbach (Ames, Iowa) Bridget Butler (Barrington, Illinois) and Olivia Lovegrove (Lincoln, Nebraska) will join the Huskers next season after making their college plans official on Nov. 8.

Sutherland said all three student-athletes are high-character young people who love golf and want to get better every day at Nebraska.

Lohrbach was a three-time Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Player of the Year at Gilbert High School prior to her spring golf season in 2024. A two-time IGHSAU Class 3A state champion (2021, 2023) and the Class 3A state runner-up in 2022,  she was also the Class 2A co-ed state champion in 2022. 

“Eden will make an immediate impact on our team.  She loves the game of golf. She knows how to score, and plays her best when it matters most. She went undefeated this year in high school golf, and that speaks to her competitiveness and focus on the course. She is very excited to join the Huskers and do her best to help us win tournaments. Eden is a strong student and a good person on and off the course. We are thrilled that Eden chose to become a Husker.”

Lohrbach led Gilbert to a Class 3A state team title and an 86-0 head-to-head record in 2023 for Coach Grant Walker, after helping the Tigers to state runner-up finishes in 2021 and 2022. She also powered Gilbert to three consecutive conference and district championships in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Individually, Lohrbach was undefeated as a junior in 2023.

Lohrbach was the runner up at the Iowa Women’s Amateur in 2021, before finishing third at the state women’s amateur in both 2022 and 2023.

“I chose Nebraska because the coaching staff and the resources available for student-athletes are amazing," Lohrbach said. "Coach Sutherland has so much experience, I can’t wait to learn from her to help me grow as a person and player.”

Butler is a three-time all-conference and all-regional golfer at Barrington High School in Illinois. She helped the Broncos to the 2021 state team championship as a sophomore, while also leading the school to four consecutive conference and regional team titles.

"Bridget is a tremendous athlete who has the ability to grow into a leader at Nebraska and in the Big Ten,” Sutherland said. “She has a strong work ethic and the desire to help the Huskers win championships. Bridget has excelled at numerous sports and brings a strong team spirit and love of competition to the team. She will have the opportunity to help us very soon. She’s also strong in the classroom and a great person to have in our program.”

Butler, who was the 2022 individual regional champion, also won individual titles in 2023 at the Mike Rusk tournament, Conway Farms tournament and the Kevin Streelman Invitational.

A strong performer in the classroom, Butler was a member of National Honor Society in high school. She plans to major in sports media and communications at Nebraska.

“I chose Nebraska because of the high-level golf program, coaching staff and school spirit," Butler said. "The coaches were definitely a big part of why I decided on Nebraska. Not only that, but the team culture was certainly something I wanted to be a part of.”

Lovegrove, a senior at Lincoln Christian High School, was the 2022 Nebraska Class C state champion and the 2023 Class C state runner-up, after finishing fourth at state as both a freshman and sophomore. A four-time district champion, Lovegrove fired a Class C state record 65 on her way to the district title as a junior in 2022.  A two-time conference champion, Lovegrove’s 66 in 2023 also set the conference record.

“Olivia has been a dominant player in Lincoln and the state of Nebraska this past year,” Sutherland said. “She loves Nebraska and has worked hard to be the best player she can be to help us be a better team. She is strong in the classroom and a wonderful person. We are looking forward to her being a Husker.”

The four-time all-state selection and three-time Super State pick was also the champion of all three Nebraska Junior Golf Spring Series events in 2023. She helped the Crusaders to a state runner-up finish as a freshman in 2020 and three district championships in 2020, 2022 and 2023.

An outstanding student, Lovegrove was a two-time member of National Honor Society and a two-time academic all-conference selection at LCS. She plans to major in business administration at Nebraska.

“I chose Nebraska because of the school’s incredible care toward their athletes, the amazing College of Business and the high level golf program," Lovegrove said. "Growing up in Lincoln, it has always been a dream of mine to be a Husker athlete.