Husker Women's Golf Adds Transfer Kono

Lincoln - NCAA Division I transfer Hannah Kono will join the Nebraska women's golf team for the 2024-25 season, Nebraska Head Coach Jeanne Sutherland announced on Tuesday, June 11.

Kono is the second Division I transfer in the Husker class of newcomers for 2024-25, which also includes four incoming freshmen.

Kono, who was a freshman at Oakland University in 2023-24, will have three seasons of eligibility remaining. The sophomore-to-be from Enkoping, Sweden produced Oakland's No. 2 individual stroke average (75.85) over 27 rounds last season.

"We’re very excited to add Hannah to our team," Sutherland said. "She has the desire to be a great player and has experience at both the college and international levels. She’s one of those players who loves to spend her day at the golf course and enjoys every aspect of the game." 

She helped Oakland to the Horizon League Tournament championship and an automatic berth to the NCAA East Lansing Regional. She tied for 41st individually as Oakland's No. 2 finisher at the Forest Akers Golf Course at Michigan State with a three-round total of 225 (75-76-74).

Her NCAA Regional performance followed her sixth-place finish at the Horizon League Championship in Howey in the Hills, Fla. She managed rounds of 76, 79 and 79 to finish at 234 (+18) over three rounds at the El Campeon Golf Course.

"I am incredibly excited to have the opportunity to play for the University of Nebraska and to be coached by Jeanne Sutherland and Matt Zedrick," Kono said. "Their experience and expertise are invaluable, and I am thrilled to learn from them. I am proud to join a team that offers me the chance to excel as a golfer."

Kono produced the best individual finish of her freshman season by tying for second at the Nevel Meade Collegiate hosted by Cleveland State in Prospect, Ky. (March 19-20). She posted a two-round total of 151 (+7), including an opening-round 73 to help the Golden Grizzlies share the team title with Illinois-Chicago. She was named the Horizon League Golfer of the Week (March 21) following her performance.

Kono, who notched seven top-20 finishes in 10 tournaments on the year, opened her college career with a tie for 20th at the A-Ga-Ming Invitational (Sept. 3-4). Her three-round total of 226 (+10) included a career-best second-round 71 (-1) in between rounds of 79 and 76.

She did not compete at the Mary Fossum Invitational in East Lansing (Sept. 17-18) in a tournament that Nebraska defeated Oakland by 55 strokes in the team standings. Kono returned to the lineup with her tie for 11th with a career-best 223 (+7) at the Shirley Spork EMU Invitational (Oct. 2-3). Her effort in Ypsilanti included a career-best-tying 71 (-1) in the second round and an even-par 72 in the final round.

Kono closed the fall with a third consecutive top-20 finish with a two-round total of 157 (+13) at the Chippewa Invitational in Birmingham, Mich. (Oct. 16-17). Her rounds of 80 and 77 were good enough for a tie for 20th, as she ended the fall campaign with a 75.75 stroke average over eight rounds.

She got the spring season off to a strong start with an 11th-place finish at the Texas State Invitational in New Braunfels (Feb. 5-6), where she carded three solid rounds of 74, 73 and 77 on a par-71 course to finish at 224 (+11). For her effort, Kono earned her first Horizon League Golfer of the Week award (Feb. 8).

Kono, who closed her lone season at Oakland with 20 consecutive rounds better than 80, added a 226 (77-75-74) to tie for 50th at the Rio Verde Invitational in Arizona (Feb. 23-25), before tying for 26th (77-77-78) at the Huntsville Invitational in Alabama (March 4-6).

She continued to play consistent golf with a career-best tie for second (78-73=151) at the Nevel Meade Collegiate, before adding a tie for 15th at 150 (74-76) at the Dolores Black Falcon Invitational in Bowling Green, Ohio (April 6-7).

Prior to coming to the United States, Kono won the Swedish Junior Classics at Golf Uppsala with a three-round total of 214 (-2), including an opening-round 67 (-5) and a second-round 71 (-1) in late July of 2023. She also notched a tournament win at the Huvudstadens Junior Open on in mid-June of 2023 with a two-round total of 150.

Recently, Kono notched a runner-up finish on the Swedish Junior Tour (Division 1) with an impressive three-round total of 205 at the Karsta Golf Club in Sweden.

The daughter of Jonny Kono and Anne-Sofie Holmbom, Hannah was born July 6, 2004. She has one sister, Matilda.