Takahashi Takes Lead at 49th Nebraska Women's Amateur
Round One Conducted Monday at Fremont Golf Club
FREMONT (July 31, 2023) – Weather delayed the start of the 49th Nebraska Women’s Amateur Championship for four hours on Monday, but conditions were great after that, and Husker golfer Miu Takahashi jumped into the lead after the first round at Fremont Golf Club.
Takahashi, a junior from Nasu-machi, Japan, was the only player to match par during the opening round, taking the lead with a 71 (E). After lightning and excessive rains plagued the morning, the first round went to a No. 1 and No. 10 start at noon, and Takahashi took advantage of the favorable conditions.
The Husker was chasing Omaha's Katie Ruge for most of the day, after starting 2-over through seven holes. Ruge, the 2020 Nebraska Women's Match Play Champion, played her first nine holes (the back nine at Fremont GC), in 35 (-1) and held the lead. However, Ruge made three bogeys on the front nine and fell behind Takahashi. Ruge finished with a birdie on No. 8 and a bogey on No. 9 to shoot 72 (+1).
Takahashi birdied No. 9 after her slow start, to make the turn in 36 (+1). Then, she only made one par over her first six holes of the back nine. After a par on No. 10, Takahashi then went birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie over the next five holes and was back at even-par. She closed out her round with three-straight pars to take the lead by one over Ruge.
Two-time Champion Danica Badura of Aurora is three strokes back in a tied for third with Papillion's Sydney Taake. Badura and Taake both shot rounds of 74 (+3).
A big tie for fifth follows the group near the top, with five players tied at 77 (+6). That group includes Omaha Maverick Nicole Hansen, UNK Loper Allison Comer, Eden Larson of Lincoln, Olivia Lovegrove of Lincoln and Ashlyn Eden of Omaha. Madison Murnan of Omaha, Elly Honnens of Lincoln, and Julia and Emily Karmazin of Omaha are all tied for 10th at 78 (+7).
The Championship Division's second round begins Tuesday at 8 a.m., with the Tournament Division starting play at the same time. Pairings for the second round are available on the championship website below, along with the scoring page and additional information.
Nebraska Women's Amateur Championship
About NebGolf
The Nebraska Golf Association (NebGolf), founded in 1966, is comprised of all members of public and private clubs and/or municipal or regional golf associations which utilize an approved handicap service recognized by the USGA and provided by NebGolf. Our mission is to uphold and promote the game of golf and its values to all golfers in Nebraska. Among the duties of the Association include governance of member clubs and service as their handicapping and course rating authority, conduct of state golf championships, local USGA qualifying & other notable competitions, promotion of junior golf, presentation of worthwhile educational programs and support of allied golf organizations in Nebraska. The Nebraska Golf Association is an Allied Golf Association of the USGA and carries out core services including Handicap Administration and Oversight, Course Rating, Rules of Golf and Rules of Amateur Status, Tournaments and USGA Championship Qualifiers and USGA Initiatives and Community Programs.
