Takahashi takes early lead at Nebraska Women's Amateur Championship

FREMONT – 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.