Michigan State women's golf in 13th after first round of NCAA Championships

Lansing State Journal

MSU junior Sarah Burnham, who shot a round of 63 at the Big Ten championships two weeks ago, leads the Spartans into the NCAA regionals this week in Athens, Georgia.

SUGAR GROVE, Illinois - Wind, rain and unseasonably low temperatures plagued the opening round of the NCAA Women’s Golf National Championships on Friday in Sugar Grove, Illinois, at Rich Harvest Farms. The Michigan State women’s golf team shot a 29-over-par 317 and stands in a tie for 13th place in the 24-team field.

Twenty-two of the 24 teams were at least 23-over-par and the Spartans are within six shots of being in the top three. Northwestern leads the field after an opening round 13-over-par 301.

“You had to be tough out there today,” MSU head coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll said. “The conditions were brutal and it’s a difficult golf course. I’m proud of kids; they battled the best they could, given the rough weather conditions.”

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Freshman Allyson Geer led all Spartans with a 4-over-par 76 and is currently in 13th place. The highlight of Geer’s round came on the par-5, 481-yard 11th hole where she recorded an eagle. The eagle was Geer’s team-leading fifth of the year.

Junior Sarah Burnham shot a 7-over-par 79 and had a Spartan first-round best three birdies. Burnham was 1-over-par at the turn, but finished the back 6-over and is in 44th place.

Freshman Paz Marfa Sans and redshirt junior Katie Sharp both finished with a 9-over-par 81 and are tied for 70th.

Sophomore Carolyn Markley shot a 13-over-par 85.

August Kim of Purdue and Elodie Van Dievoet of Michigan share the top spot on the individual leaderboard after firing even-par 72s.

The tournament is scheduled to continue with the second round on Saturday, though inclement weather remains in the forecast. All 24 teams will play three rounds (54 holes) with the top 15 teams, along with the top nine individuals not on an advancing team, moving on for one additional day of stroke play (Mon.) to determine the top eight teams for match play competition (Tues.-Wed.).

- MSU Athletic Communications