Huskers Eye Championships in Lone Star Showdown

Michaela Vavrova and Kelli Ann Strand showcased stellar performances, propelling the University of Nebraska’s golf team to second place after 36 holes at the Sam Golden Invitational in Corinth, Texas, this past Monday.

The duo sank an impressive 23 birdies across two rounds, achieving a combined score of 13-under-par and lifting the Huskers to a team total of 556 (-20) with consecutive rounds of 278.

“It’s an encouraging beginning to the season,” remarked Nebraska Head Coach Jeanne Sutherland. “The team demonstrated remarkable focus and composure throughout the day, skillfully navigating the challenges presented by the course.”

The Huskers sit eight strokes behind the leading Houston Cougars, who recorded a staggering score of 548 (-28). Teams from UTSA and host North Texas trail closely behind, with Tulsa and Kennesaw State rounding out the top five in a 12-team competition featuring seven NCAA Regional qualifiers from this year.

Senior Michaela Vavrova, hailing from Bojnice, Slovakia, notched a career-best single-day, 36-hole score of 137 (-7). Strand, a sophomore from Challis, Idaho, ended the day tied for eighth with a score of 138 (-6).

Both players are within striking distance of Houston’s Moa Svedenskiold, the current individual leader with a score of 134 (-10).

Junior Lena Hassert also had a career day, carding a personal best 69 (-3) in her first round, breaking her previous record of 74 (+2). She currently stands tied for 14th at 139 (-5).

Making her college debut, freshman Arden Louchheim turned heads with a first-round score of 70 (-2), contributing to Nebraska’s competitive stance. Junior Miu Takahashi and Senior Lindsey Thiele also delivered solid performances, adding depth to the team’s scoring.

The final round is set to commence with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Live updates will be available on Huskers.com via Golfstat.

Note: Team and individual rankings and scores are as of September 11-12, 2023, at the Sam Golden Invitational hosted by Oakmont Country Club in Corinth, Texas.