Smith Ties for Third in Texas

Nebraska’s Kate Smith fired a final-round 68 (-4) to charge 15 spots up the leaderboard and tie for third individually at the SMU Trinity Forest Invitational in Dallas, Texas, on Tuesday.

Smith, a fifth-year senior from Detroit Lakes, Minn., entered Tuesday’s third round in a tie for 18th, before putting together an impressive final 18 holes to close at 219 (75-76-68, +3). Smith’s final round included five birdies, including four on the front nine, and an eagle on the par-five 11th hole. She posted a 33 (-3) on the front, before adding a 35 (-1) on the back over the par-72, 6,258-yard layout at the Trinity Forest Golf Club.

Smith’s strong final round helped the Huskers climb three spots in the team standings as well, tying for ninth in the 14-team tournament. Nebraska recorded a team score of 916, including its best round of the tournament with a 292 (+4) on Tuesday. Nebraska tied with perennial national power Washington.

Baylor won the team title with a three-round total of 865 (284-294-287), while Oklahoma State finished 14 shots back in second at 879 (292-293-294). Texas took third (891), while Kansas State (903) and Texas Tech (904) rounded out the top five. The hosts from SMU finished sixth (906), while Tulsa (907) and UTSA (908) completed the teams finishing ahead of the Big Red. The Huskers defeated BYU (918), Chattanooga (928), Memphis (932) and Missouri State (959) in the talent-laden field at Trinity Forest.

Nebraska got its No. 2 individual finish from freshman Lindsey Thiele (Wahoo, Neb.), who carded a final-round 74 to tie for 43rd (76-82-74) in her first collegiate team event. Graduate transfer Alice Duan (Reno, Nev.) closed the tournament with an even-par 72 to climb 15 spots up the leaderboard into 47th at 233 (79-82-72).

Freshman Michaela Vavrova (Bojnice, Slovakia) tied for 55th in the 74-player field at 237 (80-79-78), while junior Megan Whittaker (Elkhorn, Neb.) rounded out the Nebraska contingent in a tie for 65th at 240 (83-77-80).

Baylor’s Hannah King claimed medalist honors with a 211 (72-71-68, -5), while Oklahoma State’s Maja Stark was the runner-up at 212 (66-72-74, -4). 

Nebraska will return to action at the Bruin Wave Invitational in Somis, Calif., March 1-3.

SMU Trinity Forest Invitational

Dallas, Texas (Trinity Forest GC)

Par 72, 6,258 Yards

Feb. 1-2, 2021

Final Team Results

1. Baylor – 284-294-287=865 (+1)

2. Oklahoma State – 292-293-294=879 (+15)

3. Texas – 298-302-291=891 (+27)

4. Kansas State – 310-304-289=903 (+39)

5. Texas Tech – 303-308-293=904 (+40)

6. SMU – 303-316-287=906 (+42)

7. Tulsa – 310-305-293=908 (+43)

8. UTSA – 310-305-293=908 (+44)

T9. Nebraska – 310-314-292=916 (+52)

T9. Washington – 300-312-304=916 (+52)

11. Brigham Young – 302-310-306=918 (+54)

12. Chattanooga – 307-315-306=928 (+64)

13. Memphis – 317-307-308=932 (+68)

14. Missouri State – 319-322-318=959 (+95)

Final Individual Results

1. Hannah King, Baylor – 72-71-68=211 (-5)

2. Maja Stark, Oklahoma State – 66-72-74=212 (-4)

T3. Kate Smith, Nebraska – 75-76-68=219 (+3)

T3. Rosie Belsham, Baylor – 69-77-73=219 (+3)

T3. Allysha Mae Mateo, BYU – 73-70-76=219 (+3)

T3. Elodie Chapelet, Baylor – 69-76-74=219 (+3)

T7. Sofia Garcia, Texas Tech – 70-80-70=220 (+4)

T7. Haley Greb, Tulsa – 76-74-70=220 (+4)

T9. Britta Snyder, Baylor – 79-70-72=221 (+5)

T9. Lianna Bailey, Oklahoma State – 75-74-72-221 (+5)

Nebraska Individuals

1. Kate Smith – 75-76-68=219 (+3)

T43. Lindsey Thiele – 76-82-74=232 (+16)

47. Alice Duan – 79-82-72=233 (+17)

T55. Michaela Vavrova – 80-79-78=237 (+21)

T65. Megan Whittaker – 83-77-80=240 (+24)