Huskers Lead at Nebraska Women’s Amateur

Husker women’s golfers Nicole Hansen and Lindsey Thiele fired the two best rounds on opening day at the 46th Annual Nebraska Women’s Amateur at the Country Club of Lincoln on Monday.

Lindsey Thiele (Wahoo), the younger sister of 2019 Nebraska Women’s Amateur champion and former Husker Haley Thiele and current Husker Hannah Thiele, fired a one-under-par 71 that included a 34 on the back nine. She was matched by Husker sophomore-to-be Nicole Hansen, who led for most of the first round after surging to three-under through 16 holes before taking a double bogey on 17. Hansen fired a 34 on the front nine at the Country Club.

While young Huskers produced Monday’s best rounds, junior-to-be Kirsten Baete (Beatrice) added a two-over-par 74 to sit in a tie for fourth place on the leaderboard. The greatest women’s golfer in Husker history, All-American Sarah Sasse-Kildow, sits just one stroke back of Baete in a tie for sixth entering Tuesday’s second round.

Husker senior Jessica Haraden added a four-over 76 to sit alone in eighth place, as four Nebraska women’s golfers closed the first day of competition in the top eight on the leaderboard. 

Seniors Noor Ahmed (79, +7) and Hannah Thiele (79, +7) head into Tuesday’s round tied for 13th.

In addition to the many Huskers competing in the Nebraska Women’s Amateur, senior Kate Smith opened her play at the 120th U.S. Women’s Amateur with a solid round of even-par 72. Smith, who was among the first off the tee on Monday, completed her round early in the afternoon before play was suspended by inclement weather at 3:27 (CT). Smith was in a tie for 20th in the 132-player field, but 62 golfers had not completed the first round at the Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md.