Takahashi is Nebraska Women's Amateur Golfer of the Year
Husker Golfer is First International Winner
OMAHA (November 28, 2023) - The Nebraska Golf Association is proud to announce the selection of Lincoln's Miu Takahashi as the 2023 Nebraska Women’s Amateur Golfer of the Year.
Takahashi is a Husker golfer from Nasu-machi, Japan, and is the first international winner of the award, which dates back to 1997. Now a junior, Takahashi set the Husker sophomore stroke average record (73.49) last season, including her first collegiate win, and rolled into an impressive summer.
In her first NebGolf championship, Takahashi took charge from the start of the 49th Nebraska Women's Amateur Championship at Fremont Golf Club. Her opening 71 (E) gave her a one-stroke lead over Omaha's Katie Ruge, but after a second round 80 (+9), her lead slipped away and Ruge took the advantage.
Takahashi trailed Ruge, a Kansas Jayhawk, by three strokes heading into the final round, which was postponed an entire day, after storms and significant rain fell on Fremont Golf Club. The Husker looked to be out of contention after a quadruple-bogey on No. 3, as she found herself six strokes back following a front nine 41 (+6).
However, Takahashi birdied the par-3 10th to kick-off an incredible back nine run. She added a birdie on No. 13 and another on the par-3 17th, which gave her the solo lead for the first time since early in the second round. Takahashi closed with a par on No. 18 for a back nine 33 (-3) and a round of 74 (+3) to win by one stroke with a 225 (+12) total. She is also the first international player to win the Nebraska Women's Amateur, which started in 1975.
The rest of Takahashi's points came from a qualifier for the 123rd U.S. Women's Amateur in Dallas. She put together a clutch round of 72 (+1) to earn one of six qualifying spots to get into the championship at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles.
Takahashi shot rounds of 78 (+8) and 73 (+3) at the U.S. Women's Amateur to finish with a 151 (+11) total. She missed the cut to the 64-player match play bracket.
Takahashi will be honored at the Nebraska Golf Association's annual awards banquet on Friday, December 1 at Omaha Country Club. In addition, NebGolf will recognize its Amateur Golfer of the Year, Girls’ Amateur Golfer of the Year, Junior Amateur Golfer of the Year, and Senior Amateur Golfer of the Year.
For more on the award, link below.
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.