Kate Smith keeps adding to her super-senior resume. The graduate student at Nebraska made headlines last month for a hot start at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Now, Smith is the Big Ten Conference individual champion.
Smith, of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, went 9 under for 54 holes at TPC River’s Bend in Maineville, Ohio, and won the conference crown by three shots over Northwestern’s Irene Kim. A final-round 8-under 64 was key for Smith. That round included eight birdies – three of them in her first four holes – and tied Smith’s own record for best individual round in school history.
“What an amazing day,” Smith said in a school release. “I couldn’t be more proud of this team for their play this week. What a great day for the Huskers. Winning hasn’t really set in yet. My career at Nebraska has been amazing, and I wouldn’t have achieved this win today without my coaches, teammates and the support of the whole athletic department. This is a great day for Nebraska women’s golf.”
Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings: Women’s team | Women’s individual
College golf blog: The Road to Grayhawk