Women's Golf Takes Team Title At Lady Boilermaker Invitational

April 18, 2004

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Michigan State women's golf team took home the tournament title at the Lady Boilermaker Invitational at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Ind., on Sunday, April 18. The Spartans shot a 316 on the final day of play as the wind played a factor with gusts between 30 and 45 miles per hour. State finished the tournament with a 918 (299-303-316).

"We kept the band-aid on today," said MSU Head Coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll. "It was very challenging today and the wind played a big factor. Purdue's golf course is difficult without the wind, and we worked very hard to shoot the score we did. We did a great job of keeping our mistakes to a minimum."

The tournament win marked State's third of the season, as the Spartans also captured tournament honors at the Badger Invitational (Sept. 12-14) and the Mary Fossum Invitational (Sept. 20-21).

Indiana, who led the field going into the final round of play, finished four strokes back with a 922. Northwestern (931), Purdue (932) and Iowa (935) rounded out the top five teams.

Indiana's Danah Ford took the tournament's individual title, shooting a 221 (71-68-82). Northwestern's Alice Kim was second with a 224 (74-75-75).

Leading the way for the Spartans are red-shirt freshman Rachel Meikle (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and freshman Heather Rose (Chillicothe, Ohio) as the duo finished tied for sixth with a 230. Meikle, who was making her first appearance as a member of traveling team, shot a career-best 230 (76-73-81), while Rose posted rounds of 74-77-79.

"I was really proud of Rachel and Heather today," remarked Slobodnik-Stoll. "The conditions were pretty adverse and they played great. They are really pushing the upper classmen right now. I hate to look ahead, but it also let's me know that our future is intact."

Seniors Allison Fouch (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Sarah Martin (Grosse Ile, Mich.) also posted top-20 finishes. Fouch tied for 11th with a 231 (78-76-77) to mark her seventh top-20 finish of the year. Meanwhile, Martin tied for 18th with a 235 (79-77-79) to post her eighth top-20 showing of the season.

Rounding out the MSU roster was senior Ann Marie Kersten (Oak Harbor, Ohio), who tied for 24th with a 236 (74-81-81) and sophomore Dayna Burleigh (Horsham, Pa.), who was DQ on the final day of play.

The Spartans will hit the links next weekend (April 23-25) as they head to Columbus, Ohio to compete in the Big Ten Championship.