Huskers Add Pair of International Golfers

The Nebraska women’s golf program will add a pair of impressive international players to its 2021-22 roster after announcing the signings of Lena Hassert and Miu Takahashi to National Letters of Intent on Thursday, Nov. 12.

Hassert, a two-time Austrian Junior Stroke Play champion, was also the runner-up at the German National Championship in 2017. The young golfer from Ureuzau, Germany is a four-time German Youth National Championship qualifier and has extensive international experience.

Hassert will be joined in the two-player class by Japan’s Miu Takahashi, who finished as the runner-up at the Niigata Prefecture Golf Tournament and added a fifth-place finish at the Yonex Junior Golf Championship.

“We were offered Miu and Lena opportunities to play golf at Nebraska based on their strong technique, work ethic and desire to play professionally,” Nebraska Coach Lisa Johnson said. “Both have the elite level tournament experience that is required to compete in the Big Ten and nationally. They have a very good chance to make immediate impacts on our program.”

Lena Hassert, Ureuzau, Germany (Gymnasium Ureuzau)

• Austrian Junior Stroke Play Champion (2017, 2020)    

• Austrian Juniors Tour Champion (2019)

• German National Championship (Runner-Up, 2017)            

• Four-Time German Youth National Championship Qualifier (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020)    

Lena Hassert will join the Nebraska women’s golf team in the fall of 2020, after producing a strong resume’ as a junior player internationally in Europe.

The young golfer from Ureuzau, Germany was the Austrian U16 and U18 Junior Stroke Play champion. She also tied for second at the German National Championship in 2017 and was a four-time German Youth National Championship qualifier.

In addition to her experience in Germany and Austria, Hassert has competed in England, Czechoslovakia and Malta. More recently, Hassert was the runner-up at an Austrian Junior Golf Tour U21 event in 2020.

She competed individually throughout Europe, while also playing as a team member at the German National Girls Team Championship. She helped her Kölner Golfclub to a regional championship and a third-place national finish in 2019, before leading Golfclub Hubbelrath to a regional title in 2020.

“I chose Nebraska because of the coaching staff, especially Lisa. Her goals and visions for the team and for each individual convinced me the most. I am excited for the next years to come.”

Miu Takahashi, Nasu-machi, Japan (Kaishi Okusai)

• Niigata Prefecture Golf Tournament (Runner-up)

• Yonex Junior Golf Championship (5th)

Miu Takahashi hopes to come to Nebraska as one of the top young golfers in Japan. Takahashi tied for second at the Niigata prefecture golf tournament and finished fifth at the Yonex Junior Golf Championship. She did not compete in tournaments during the summer of 2020 in Japan because of restrictions sparked by the world-wide outbreak of the coronavirus.

Takahashi attended Kaishi Kokusai High School. She was coached by Hiroyuki Fujita.

“I chose Nebraska because the coaches are very kind and I felt like I’d like to play golf for them,” Takahashi said. “I was impressed by the golf practice facilities and golf program. Many people suggested Nebraska is a safe place.”