Strand Takes Top 20 Big Ten Finish

Kelli Ann Strand earned a top 20 finish in her first Big Ten Championship, but the Nebraska women’s golf team slipped to 10th as a team on Sunday in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Strand, a freshman from Challis, Idaho, managed a final-round 77 (+6) on the par-71, 6,045-yard layout of the Fox Chapel Golf Club to close the 54-hole event at 223 (+10) in a tie for 20th as Nebraska’s top finisher.

Junior Lindsey Thiele (Wahoo, Neb.) was Nebraska’s No. 2 finisher at the event, closing in a tie for 34th at 228 (+15), including a final-round 79 (+8) on Sunday.

Graduate student Megan Whittaker contributed the best final round for the Huskers with a 76 (+5) to wrap up her fourth and final Big Ten Championship in a tie for 45th at 230 (+17).

Sophomore Andrea Velez, who was Nebraska’s No. 6 golfer in the six-count-four format, produced her second counting round of the three-round event with a 78 (+7) over the final 18 holes. She closed at 234 (+21) in a tie for 62nd.

Junior Michaela Vavrova settled for an 80 in the final round to tie for 58th overall at 233 (+20), while Miu Takahashi rounded out the NU contingent with a final-round 81.

Illinois outlasted Northwestern to claim the team title. The Fighting Illini matched the Wildcats shot-for-shot with a 287 on Sunday and finished with a three-round total of 865 (+13). No. 15 Northwestern took second at 868 (+16) while No. 24 Ohio State finished third at 871 (+19).

The Fighting Illini’s Crystal Wang starred on Sunday with sizzling 62 (-9) to run away with the Big Ten individual championship. Wang finished with a 54-hole score of 201 (-12) as the only golfer in the field to end the tournament better than par. Minnesota’s Isabella McCauley and Wisconsin’s Emily Lauterbach tied for second at 213 (E).

The Big Ten Conference will announce its postseason honors for women’s golf on Wednesday, April 26 at 10 a.m. (CT). The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for Wednesday at noon (CT) and will be televised live by the Golf Channel.

Big Ten Championship

April 21-23, 2023

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Fox Chapel Golf Club (Par 71, 6,045 Yards)

Final Team Standings

1. Illinois – 286-292-287=865 (+13)

2. Northwestern – 295-286-287=868 (+16)

3. Ohio State – 292-285-294=871 (+19)

4. Maryland – 294-287-302=883 (+31)

5. Wisconsin – 295-302-293=890 (+38)

T6. Michigan – 301-301-295=897 (+45)

T6. Michigan State – 302-298-297=897 (+45)

8. Purdue – 297-306-295=898 (+46)

9. Minnesota – 301-303-298=902 (+50)

10. Nebraska – 300-294-310=904 (+52)

11. Iowa – 303-299-307=909 (+57)

T12. Indiana – 296-305-309=910 (+58)

T12. Penn State – 307-292-311=910 (+58)

14. Rutgers – 311-307-300=918 (+66)

Final Individual Results

1. Crystal Wang, Illinois – 71-68-62=201 (-12)

T2. Isabella McCauley, Minnesota – 71-74-68=213 (E)

T2. Emily Lauterbach, Wisconsin – 69-73-71=213 (E)

4. Isabel Sy, Illinois – 69-70-75=214 (+1)

5. Leigha Devine, Rutgers – 72-74-69=215 (+2)

T6. Lauren Peter, Ohio State – 74-69-74=217 (+4)

T6. Patricie Mackova, Maryland – 72-70-75=217 (+4)

T6. Kelly Sim, Northwestern – 72-69-76=217 (+4)

T9. Lauren Nguyen, Northwestern – 73-76-69=218 (+5)

T9. Panassaya Somchit, Maryland – 72-74-72=218 (+5)

Nebraska Individuals

T20. Kelli Ann Strand – 74-72-77=223 (+10)

T34. Lindsey Thiele – 74-75-79=228 (+15)

T45. Megan Whittaker – 77-77-76=230 (+17)

T58. Michaela Vavrova – 78-75-80=233 (+20)

T62. Andrea Velez – 75-81-78=234 (+21)

DNF – Miu Takahashi – WD-73-81