Michigan State University Athletics
Allison Fouch Reaches Goals as a Spartan
12/12/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Dec. 12, 2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. - When it comes to goals, Michigan State junior golfer Allison Fouch has an abundance of them.
Prior to the start of the 2001 fall season, the Grand Rapids, Mich., native's list included winning a collegiate tournament, leading the team on and off the golf course, keeping her average below 75 all season, winning a national championship as a team and repeating as Big Ten Champions this season.
The 21-year-old golfer has already accomplished a majority of them and she is setting herself up to embark on the rest of the goals during the spring season.
It wasn't easy for Fouch to get to the point where she is at now. Fouch, who did not qualify to play as a freshman, had to put in extra effort on her short game and mental game before she had a chance to rise as one of MSU's top contenders.
As a sophomore, Fouch competed in her first tournament, the Mary Fossum Invitational, in the fall of 2000.
"I came in with the ability, but not necessarily everything was coming together," Fouch said about red-shirting her freshman year.
Once Fouch made the lineup, she not only became a solid competitor for the Spartans, but led the Spartans to their first conference championship since 1982 with a career-best second-place finish individually. Fouch shot a four-round total of 303, firing her first competitive round under par as a Spartan with a 70 in day two of competition.
The team's 2001 Big Ten Championship title is something Fouch will always remember.
"That is the biggest and best thing I have ever won as a team," said Fouch. "It was the most thrilling event I have ever played in. I played well at that tournament so the whole week was pretty big for me."
The education major went on to post the biggest turnaround at the 2001 NCAA West Regional. She was tied for 71st after firing an 82 in day one of competition. Fouch carded a 74-74 in the last two days to tie for 29th.
"I knew my game was there, but the front side played so bad," Fouch said. "I can almost mentally get myself around the golf course the way I want to. I just have to think all the right things and get into the zone. It's a battle to try and find your way back into that zone every round.
"It felt good to know that I could come back. It gives me confidence for the next round when I go out and bogie two holes. It reminds me that I have a lot more holes (to play out) instead of thinking this could get really bad. I have learned to have the mentality that I can play this game. I know if I just keep at it, it will come."
And it did. Fouch was able to cross another goal off her list, capturing her first collegiate tournament win at the Pine Needles Invitational during the 2001 fall season.
"It's always exciting to reach another goal," said Fouch, who shot a two-day total of 74-71-145 to lead the tournament. "I set this as one of my goals this fall before coming in. I really wanted to win a collegiate tournament. It was definitely not as exciting as winning as a team. It's kind of an extra added bonus to win individually."
It's Fouch's hard work and determination that has helped her earn a spot as one of the top Spartan golfers.
"I feel like it's one of the biggest accomplishments I've ever had to be compared to (MSU senior golfers Emily Bastel and Stacy Snider)," said Fouch, who competed against Snider in junior golf. "I have looked up to Stacy my entire life. To be on the same level as her, which is what I have always wanted, I always seemed to be a step behind. I have worked so hard to be a part of them."
Fouch has worked so hard that she is surpassing goals that she didn't even set. She carded a career-best round with a 3-under 69 at the Mercedes Benz Intercollegiate.
While Fouch has reached many of her goals, she still knows that more challenges await her in the remainder of her collegiate career, the first being the spring season.
"Last spring was the first spring season I have played in," Fouch said. "I really struggled coming back from the winter. In the fall, you come off playing all summer in tournaments, and you are in a groove. Spring for me this season is definitely going to be a big challenge.
"Spring is a little harder for me," said Fouch, who averaged 75.6 strokes per round in the fall season. "I am just going to work on what I know, what makes my game better, which is not necessarily making my swing perfect or having all my mechanics in place, but just knowing where the ball is going to go."
Last spring it took Fouch a little while to warm up but hopes this season she will be able to jump into the spring season after knowing what to expect from last season. The Spartans' first spring tournament is Feb. 11-13 at the TRW Regional Challenge in Los Angeles, Calif.
"I don't know if there are enough words to express what she's done, what she's accomplished and what's she's going to accomplish, which is key," MSU women's golf coach Stacy Slobdonik-Stoll said. "Allison is a very goal-oriented player. There's nothing that can stop her because she's willing to give 110 percent in everything that she does both on the golf course and in the academic arena. She's a wonderful person and a huge asset to our team and the university."
