Women's Golf Hosts Mary Fossum Invitational
9/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Sept. 15, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's golf team hosts the Mary Fossum Invitational this Saturday-Sunday (Sept. 18-19) at Forest Akers West Golf Course on the campus of Michigan State University. The three-round invitational consisting of 14 teams, tees off with a shotgun start on Saturday at 8:45 a.m. Teams will play 36 holes on Saturday and complete the final 18 holes on Sunday with play beginning at 9 a.m.
Teams scheduled to compete include: Eastern Michigan, Ferris State, Grand Valley State, Illinois State, Indiana, Kent State, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Princeton, Toledo, Western Michigan, Wisconsin and Xavier.
The Mary Fossum Invitational, formerly known as the Spartan Fall Classic, is a tribute to the former Michigan State women's golf coach. Fossum's career at MSU spanned three decades (1973-97), and she was key in MSU's rise to the upper echelon of women's collegiate golf. During her tenure, MSU captured six Big Ten titles, including an unprecedented five in a row from 1974-78. With Fossum at the helm, the Spartans played in six consecutive AIAW National Championships (1973-78) and two NCAA National Championships (1982, 1984).
"Our home tournament is one of the most important tournaments for our team during the year," said eighth-year head coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll. "It is a chance for us to showcase Forest Akers Golf Course, but it also gives our parents a chance to come out and support the team.
"One of the most special parts of the weekend is the fact that we can honor Mary (Fossum). She has done so much for Michigan State golf, and this is our chance to thank her for what she has accomplished."
Michigan State will enter the tournament as the defending Fossum Tournament Champion, as the Spartans claimed the 2003 team title after shooting a 901 (299-302-300). Individually, State was led by medalist Allison Fouch who took first-place honors after winning the first hole of a playoff with Arkansas' Courtney Mahon.
All 12 players on Michigan State's roster will complete at the Fossum Invitational. The squad will be broken up into two teams of five, with the remaining two golfers playing as individuals.
State's Team A will consist of sophomores Rachel Meikle (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Mandi McConnell (Grand Blanc, Mich.) and Heather Rose (Chillicothe, Ohio), alongside redshirt freshman Kristen Polanski (Livonia, Mich.) and true freshman Sara Brown (Tucson, Ariz.). Each of the five starters on Team A made their first appearance of the season last weekend (Sept. 11-12) at the Lady Northern Invitational.
Team B will consist of juniors Dayna Burleigh (Horsham, Pa.), Jennifer Johnson (Okemos, Mich.) and Christy Jonkhoff (Traverse City, Mich.). Sophomore Amanda Wilson (Portage, Mich.) and freshman Jordyn Wells (Bethel Park, Pa.) round out the Spartans second team. Wells is the lone player from Team B to have made an appearance at the Lady Northern.
Juniors Kelly Thesier (Brighton, Mich.) and Kelly Collier (Englewood, Colo.) will each make their first appearances of the season playing as individuals.
The Spartans finished fourth overall at last weekend's (Sept. 11-12) Lady Northern Invitational. MSU was led by McConnell, who finished 10th. The outing marked McConnell's first top-10 finish in her career. In her first collegiate start, Brown finished tied for 18th. Rose and Polanski each finished tied for 23rd, while Meikle finished tied for 26th and Wells finished tied for 73rd.
This weekend's tournament will feature live-scoring that can be found by logging onto www.msuspartans.com.
Mary Fossum Tournament Information
Host School:
Michigan State University
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Dates:Sept. 18-19, 2004
Course: Forest Akers West Golf Course
Par/Yardage: 72 / 6,236
Format: 36-18=54
2003 Mary Fossum Champion: Michigan State (299-302-300=901)
2003 Mary Fossum Medalist: Allison Fouch, Michigan State (72-77-73=222)
won the first hole of a playoff with Arkansas' Courtney Mahon.
Field (14): Eastern Michigan, Ferris State, Grand Valley State,
Illinois State, Indiana, Kent State, Michigan, Michigan State,
Northwestern, Princeton, Toledo, Western Michigan, Wisconsin and Xavier.
All-Time Winners of the Mary Fossum Invitational Winner MSU Finish 1978 Alabama 3rd 1979 Ohio State 4th 1980 Ohio State 8th 1981 Michigan State 1st 1982 Penn State 2nd 1983 Ohio State 4th 1984 Indiana 2nd 1985 Michigan State 1st 1988 Ohio State 6th 1989 Nebraska 2nd 1990 Bowling Green 5th 1991 N. Illinois 8th 1992 Ohio State 3rd 1993 Indiana 7th 1995 Wisconsin 3rd 1997 Indiana 2nd 1998 Michigan State 1st 1999 Indiana 7th 2000 Minnesota 4th 2001 Cancelled Due to 9/11 tragedy 2002 Kent State 3rd 2003 Michigan State 1st
Golfstat.com will provide live scoring of this weekend's tournament.