MSU notes: Former Spartan Lindsey McPherson wins Michigan Women's Open

Former Michigan State golfer Lindsey McPherson won the Michigan PGA Women's Open this week, held at Crystal Mountain Resort in Mountain Ridge.

McPherson carded a 71-68-69—208 to finish 8-under-par and beat Marissa Chow by one stroke. Her 17 birdies — five more than anyone else in the field — carried her to victory.

BASEBALL

Achter signs with Atlantic League team

Former Michigan State pitcher A.J. Achter has found a home, recently signed by the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League, according to the Franklin (New Jersey) Reporter & Advocate.

Achter was with the Detroit Tigers for spring training and was in their minor league farm system before being released recently. He made 27 appearances for the Anaheim Angels last year, and also previously played with the Twins.

SWIMMING

Woods to compete in Phillips 66 National Championships

Michigan State rising sophomore Payton Woods will be competing in the 2017 Phillips 66 National Championships that are taking place Tuesday through Saturday at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis. Woods will be swimming in the men’s 50-meter freestyle preliminaries on Saturday at 10:26 a.m. The finals begin later that evening at 7:40 p.m.

Woods recorded his best time of 19.83 seconds in the 50 freestyle at the Big Ten Championships. Not only was that his best time, but it was the fastest time in MSU history. He also clocked in at 44.64 in the 100 freestyle at the Big Ten Championships, making that the seventh fastest time in MSU history.

Wood’s first national championship appearance will be taped and can be watched on Saturday at 1 p.m. on NBC or live at USASwimming.org.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

2017 schedule announced

The Michigan State women’s soccer program announced its schedule for the upcoming 2017 season.

The Spartans will kick off the 18-game schedule on Friday, Aug. 18 when they host Niagara.

The Spartans’ schedule features 11 regular-season home games plus an exhibition game against Toledo on Aug. 10. MSU will hit the road seven times with an added exhibition game on Aug. 12 at Central Michigan.

Three of the Spartans’ four games during the month August will take place consecutively at DeMartin Stadium. Following the season-opener vs. Niagara on Aug. 18, MSU will meet a Pac-12 school for the second year in a row when Washington visits East Lansing on Aug. 20.

Michigan State will put the newly-installed lights at DeMartin Stadium to use for the first time on Aug. 24 when the Spartans host Butler at 7 p.m.

MSU’s lone road trip of the season’s opening month will be Aug. 27 when it travels to Samford, a team that advanced to last year’s NCAA tournament.

A busy September will include eight games for the Spartans, starting Sept. 1 on the road at Bowling Green.

A stretch of four consecutive home games for the Green and White will begin on Sept. 3 against Oakland. MSU will then wrap up nonconference play against perennial ACC power Wake Forest on Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.

Big Ten play begins with a pair of home games vs. Indiana (Sept. 14) and Purdue (Sept. 17).

The Spartans first conference road trip will take them to Wisconsin on Sept. 21 and then Minnesota on Sept. 24, before wrapping up the month at home vs. Nebraska on Sept. 29.

Michigan State starts October at home vs. Iowa (Oct. 1) and then heads to Ohio State (Oct. 6) and Penn State (Oct. 8) the following weekend.

This year’s matchup with Michigan will take place under the lights at DeMartin Stadium on Oct. 14 at 6 p.m.

The Spartans’ final conference road game will be Oct. 21 at Maryland, before wrapping up the regular season at home vs. Northwestern on Oct. 25.