Jack Stager
The Michigan State Spartans finished day one in first place before falling to second in the final round of the second day.EAST LANSING – Coming off a red-hot Sunday, the Michigan State women’s golf team found themselves in first place with an eight-stroke lead at the Mary Fossum Invitational, hosted at Forest Akers West golf course. On Monday in the final round, Head coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll kept her same lineup of Katie Lu, Shannon Kennedy, Brooke Biermann, Leila Raines, and Valentina Rossi.
Unfortunately for the Spartans, it was a complete turnaround compared to their Sunday success. Michigan State lost 15 strokes in their first nine holes, as bogeys and double bogeys clouded the Spartans scorecard to begin the day. Through the first two rounds of play on Sunday, the Spartans had 29 birdies or better. On Monday, the women found themselves only carding seven.
Michigan State ended up placing second, with a team score of 302 (+14) for the third and final round. With scores coming from juniors Katie Lu (74, +2), and Brooke Biernmann (77, +5), along with seniors Leila Raines (73, +1) and Valentina Rossi (78, +6).
Fortunately for the Spartans, it wasn’t just a case of the bad news Mondays. Michigan State’s success throughout the weekend was largely in part of Katie Lu, as her individual three-round total accumulated to three under par throughout the competition. Lu took individual honors as she placed first out of the whole field. Raines also cracked the top three as she finished one under through the three rounds at Forest Akers West. She received individual honors and took third place out of the field.
Nonetheless, a top-three finish for Michigan State is the momentum that Slobodnik-Stoll will be looking for her team to replicate. The Spartans will get a week to work on things and tee it right back up in Toledo, Ohio, as they travel to compete in the Glass City Invitational on Sept. 25th and 26th.