Huskers Surge in Final Round at Sun Coast

Lindsey Thiele posted her first top-10 finish of the season, while Kelli Ann Strand added Nebraska's best round of the tournament with a 68 to tie for 11th and lead the Husker women's golf team up the standings on the final day of the Spartan Sun Coast Invitational on Monday in Sarasota, Fla.

Thiele, a senior from Wahoo, Neb., added a final-round 73 (+1) to Sunday's opening-round 70 (-2) to finish in a tie for seventh at 143 (-1). Thiele's second round was filled with ups and downs, as she recorded five birdies and six bogeys to go with seven pars on the 6,191-yard layout of the Champions Course at the Palm Aire Country Club. It was Thieles third career top-10 finish as a Husker.

"It was nice to see Lindsey play well this week," Nebraska Head Coach Jeanne Sutherland said. "She will take a lot away from this event that will help her the rest of the spring. Kelli Ann and Miu also showed their games today."

Strand cruised through Monday's 18 holes with four birdies and 14 pars to finish at four-under-par. The sophomore from Challis, Idaho, jumped 17 spots on the leader board into a tie for 11th with a 36-hole score of even-par 144 after an opening-round 76 in rough conditions on Sunday. Strand's 68 was her 11th round better than par in 17 total rounds this season, and her 29th career round under par in 55 rounds.

Junior Miu Takahashi contributed an impressive 69 (-3) to Nebraska's team score on Monday, vaulting 31 spots up the individual standings into a tie for 41st at 151 (+7) for the tournament. The junior from Nasu-machi, Japan carded four birdies and 13 pars against one bogey for the round.

Sydney Harz and Michaela Vavrova both closed the tournament with final rounds of 75 (+3). Harz tied with Husker teammate Andrea Velez in 67th, while Vavrova tied for 72nd in the 81-player field.

As a team, Nebraska posted a final-round 285 (-3), to move up two spots to 11th in the team standings. The Huskers (595) moved in front of both North Carolina State (598) and Kent State (603), while finishing just one shot back of Miami.

"We played a lot better today because we played to targets and with freedom," Nebraska Coach Jeanne Sutherland said. "Yesterday we played away from trouble and tried to control everything, and it just doesn't work. It was a good lesson to learn going into the meat of our spring schedule. We still have work to do with being in the right frame of mind to compete, but I liked what I saw today."

Ohio State (576) held off the College of Charleston (578) for the team title, while Tennessee secured third place after producing the best round of the tournament with a 281 (-7) on Monday. Ohio State's Kary Hollenbaugh took medalist honors with a 36-hole score of 136, including a final-round 65 (-7).

The Huskers head West for the first time this spring to compete at the Westbrook Spring Invitational in Peoria, Ariz., Feb. 25-26.

Spartan Sun Coast Invitational
Feb. 18-19, 2024
Sarasota, Florida
Palm Aire CC-Champions Course (Par 72, 6,191 Yards)

Final Team Standings
1. Ohio State - 291-285=576 (E)
2. College of Charleston - 296-282=578 (+2)
3. Tennessee - 299-281=580 (+4)
4. Georgia Southern - 298-283=581 (+5)
5. Oklahoma - 301-282=583 (+7)
6. Purdue - 300-285=585 (+9)
7. Notre Dame - 303-284=587 (+11)
T8. Michigan State - 304-286=590 (+14)
T8. North Carolina - 297-293-590 (+14)
10. Miami - 301-293=594 (+18)
11. Nebraska - 310-285=595 (+19)
12. NC State - 307-291=598 (+22)
13. Kent State - 304-299=603 (+27) 
14. Grand Valley State - 314-302=616 (+40)
15. South Dakota State - 316-304=620 (+44) 

Final Individual Standings
1. Kary Hollenbaugh, Ohio State - 71-65=136 (-8)
2. Sara Byrne, Miami - 72-68=140 (-4)
3. Gracie Mayo, Oklahoma - 71-70=141 (-3)
T4. Lauren Beaudreau, Notre Dame - 74-68=142 (-2)
T4. Regina Plascensia, Georgia Southern - 71-71=142 (-2)
T4. Caley McGinty, Ohio State - 70-72=142 (-2)
T7. Emily Dunlap, College of Charleston - 76-67=143 (-1)
T7. Kayla Holden, Tennessee - 72-71=143 (-1)
T7. Emma Schimpf, College of Charleston - 72-71=143 (-1)
T7. Lindsey Thiele, Nebraska - 70-73=143 (-1)
T11. Kelli Ann Strand, Nebraska - 76-68=144 (E)
T11. Bailey Davis, Tennessee - 75-69=144 (E)
T11. Louise Reau, Georgia Southern - 73-71=144 (E)
T11. Megan Streicher, North Carolina - 71-73=144 (E)
T11. Brooke Biermann, Michigan State - 70-74=144 (E)

Nebraska Individuals
T7. Lindsey Thiele - 70-73=143 (-1)
T11. Kelli Ann Strand - 76-68=144 (E)
T41. Miu Takahashi - 82-69=151 (+7)
T67. Sydney Harz - 82-75=157 (+13)
*T67. Andrea Velez - 79-78=157 (+13)
T72. Michaela Vavrova - 83-75=158 (+14)
*competing as an individual outside Nebraska's lineup