Spartan women’s golf wins Big Ten championship
MAINEVILLE, Ohio - The Michigan State women’s golf team captured the 2017 Big Ten Championship in comeback fashion on Sunday at TPC River’s Bend in Maineville, Ohio. The Spartans entered the final round eight strokes back of Northwestern and wound up winning the tournament by two shots after a third-round best 3-under-par 285 on Sunday.
The Spartans finished the tournament 2-over-par 866 (298-283-285), while Northwestern ended at 4-over-par 868 (288-285-295).
The title, which gives MSU the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, is the Spartans fourth in the last seven years and sixth under head coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll (2001, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017).
“It shows what our kids are made of - anything is possible,” Slobodnik-Stoll said. “I tried to emphasize to them before today’s round to play one shot at a time. We can only control ourselves so we have to take it one shot at a time.
“It says a lot about who our players are and as a team and their abilities. Today, we had to get the job done. When you come into the day having to come from behind, if you don’t play well, you don’t win. It was a gutsy performance. They wanted to win and they were willing to do what it took.”
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The Spartans placed three golfers in the top five, led by Sarah Burnham, who was the runner-up. Burnham, who fired a school and Big Ten Championships record 9-under-par 63 on Saturday, ended the tournament 5-under-par 211 (73-63-75).
Burnham was 2-over-par at the turn on Sunday and three-over with four holes to go. However, the junior was able to maintain her consistency the rest of the way as she parred the final four holes to help the Spartans hold on to their newfound lead.
Freshman Allyson Geer moved up five spots on Sunday with her best round of the tournament, a 2-under-par 70, to take fourth place. She finished the tournament an even-par 216 (73-73-70).
Geer had five birdies on the day, but none bigger than her birdie on the par-five 18th hole.
“It was pretty exciting,” Slobodnik-Stoll said. “Sarah and I watched it from the fairway. I walked with Sarah the last four holes, she wanted to know what was going on while we were in the fairway, and I said to her ‘I’m not looking.’ We heard the crowd cheer after Ally made the putt and were pretty excited.”
Junior Katie Sharp also had her best round of the tournament on Sunday with a 1-under-par 71. Sharp, who entered Sunday in 10th place, parred every hole on the front nine and had two birdies and a bogey the rest of the way to help the Spartans make their charge. She finished in a tie for fifth place at 2-over-par 218 (75-72-71).
Playing on her home course, sophomore Carolyn Markley tied her lowest round of the season with a 1-under-par 71. She moved up 21 places from Saturday in the individual standings and finished the tournament tied for 25th at 12-over-par 228 (77-80-71).
Freshman Paz Marfa Sans finished tied for 25th place at 12-over-par 228 (77-75-76). She shot a 4-over-par 76 on Sunday with five birdies, including three on the back nine.
Freshman Logan Otter had the best round of her young career with a 1-over-par 73 on Sunday. She improved her score by six strokes in rounds two and three and finished the tournament 21-over-par 237 (85-79-73).
In total, MSU now has 12 Big Ten Championships. The Spartans won five consecutive league titles from 1974-78 and then again in 1982. However, the Big Ten credits MSU with seven championships as the conference did not officially sanction women's sports until 1982.
“There are so many positives to winning,” Slobodnik-Stoll said. “It’s so great to win. It’s cool to do it for ourselves, but also for the university and the athletic department.”
BTN will debut coverage of the Big Ten Women’s Golf Championships on Saturday, April 29 at noon.
The NCAA Championships field will be announced on Thursday.
Michigan State Athletic Department communications