Michigan State University
Big Ten Championship
Spartans Finish Fourth at Big Ten Women's Golf Championships
4/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Lindsey McPherson tied for fifth at the Big Ten Championships after shooting a career-low 217 (+1).
INDIANAPOLIS - The Michigan State women's golf team finished in fourth place at the Big Ten Championships with a season-low score of 14-over-par 878 (293-292-293) as the tournament concluded on Sunday at The Fort Golf Resort. The Spartans have finished in the top four at the Big Ten Championships the past 12 years in a row and in 16 of MSU head coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll's 18 seasons.
MSU's team score of 878 is the lowest 54-hole total in program history at the Big Ten Championships (54-hole format from 1981-84; 2012-15).
"From where we started to where we are right now, we've grown leaps and bounds and we're still making progress," said Slobodnik-Stoll. "We have five players from this team that are going to return next year (this year's lineup at the Big Ten Championships had one senior, two juniors and three freshmen). I think there were so many positive things from the weekend. I told them I thought it was the best fourth-place finish we've ever had. That's tough for me to say sometimes, because I do like to win, but I think it's been fun to see them because all year we've just said, `Keep believing, keep believing.' And I feel like they've done that. All of the hard work, time and effort is finally paying off. We're just hoping everything goes the way we want it to tomorrow night at 7 (NCAA selection show)."
Senior Lindsey McPherson led the way for Michigan State, carding the lowest 54-hole score ever by a Spartan at the Big Ten Championships with a 1-over 217 (69-74-74). The 217 was also a personal low for McPherson (previous: 223) and she ended up tying for fifth place, a career high for the native of Flushing, Michigan. McPherson, who was named to the All-Championships Team, finished just four strokes behind medalist Sarah Cho of Northwestern (213).
"Lindsey played great - it was very exciting to see," said Slobodnik-Stoll. "She has worked very hard and is such a wonderful young woman. We're so proud of her for everything that she's done. This semester has been very trying for her; she's getting her master's degree in data analytics, which is a huge undertaking along with being a student-athlete. She's really been pressed for time and has just done an excellent job managing everything. I couldn't be happier for her and the way she performed."
Three other Spartans - Gabby Yurik, Sarah Burnham and Katie Sharp - also finished with career lows to help lead the team to a fourth-place finish.
Yurik tied for 12th with a 3-over 219 after shooting a 73 on Sunday, the second-lowest score of the day for the Spartans. The junior led the team with 10 birdies over the weekend. For Yurik, it marks her fifth consecutive tournament carding a career-low score (previous: 221 at last weekend's Lady Buckeye Invitational).
Burnham, a true freshman, also finished in the top 20 for the second time this season as she tied for 18th at 6-over 222 (72-75-75). She birdied her final hole of the tournament on the par-4, 390-yard 18th.
Playing in her first Big Ten Championships, red-shirt freshman Katie Sharp tied for 21st place with a 7-over 223, marking the lowest 54-hole score of her young career. Sharp closed the tournament by tallying a 74 in the third round.
Junior Alison Knowles tied for 57th place at 232 after shooting a 76 on Sunday, her lowest round of the tournament.
Freshman Jacqueline Setas carded the best round of the day for Michigan State with a season-low round of even-par 72. She finished strong with back-to-back birdies to end her round on Sunday. Overall, Setas tied for 72nd with a 239.
Northwestern and Ohio State were both named team champions after shooting identical scores of 863. Purdue finished in third place at 872.
The Spartans, who are seeking their 17th straight NCAA Regional appearance, will find out their postseason fate on Monday night. The field for the NCAA Championships will be announced at 7 p.m. on the Golf Channel. MSU entered the weekend ranked No. 58 by Golfstat and No. 61 by Golfweek.
Players Mentioned
