Michigan State University Athletics
Monday, February 16
Palm Aire Champions Course (Sarasota, Fla.)
All Day
Michigan State University
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Spartan Sun Coast Invitational
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Spartans Post Tournament-Best Round to Finish in Fourth Place at the Spartan Sun Coast Invitational
2/16/2026 2:50:00 PM | Women's Golf
East Lansing, Mich. – Led by senior Paula Balanzategui, Michigan State's women's golf team tied for the lowest round of the tournament and surged from ninth place to a fourth-place finish at the Spartan Sun Coast Invitational, played on the Palm Aires Champions Course (par-72, 6,191-yards) in Sarasota, Fla.
Battling strong winds through the first two rounds of play on Sunday, MSU finished the first day of play in ninth place among 15 teams, but fired a 4-under par 284 in the third round – tied for the tournament best round with champion Northwestern – to finish in fourth place.
The Spartans finished the two-day, 54-hole tournament at 34-over par 898 (308-306-284).
Northwestern led from start to finish, posting a 20-over par 884, four shots ahead of Oklahoma, second at 24-over par 888. Ohio State was third at 31-over par 895, followed by the Spartans and Maryland tied for fifth place with Kent State (36-over par 900).
Balanzategui, who was in second place entering the final round, saved her best for last, firing a 3-under par 69 in the third round to finish as the tournament runner-up at 1-under par 215 (71-75-69). Her second-place finish is the best of her collegiate career and her 3-under par 69 is tied for the fifth-lowest round of her career.
Senior Taylor Kehoe tied for 19th place at 8-over par 224 (78-75-71), closing the tournament out with a 1-under par 71 on Monday.
Freshman Memee Pojanalai shot a 2-over par 74 in the final round on Monday and tied for 40th place at 15-over par 231 (79-78-74).
Junior Ana Sofia Murcia tied for 59th place at 19-over par 235 (81-78-76) and sophomore Grace Vetter finished in 83rd place at 6-over par 150 (80-x-70), including a 2-under par 70 in the final round.
Freshman Lucia Valderrama, playing as an individual, tied for 40th place at 15-over par 231 (79-79-73) and senior Shannon Kennedy, also playing as an individual, tied for 46th place at 16-over par 232 (75-80-77).
Michigan State plays next at the Briar's Creek Invitational in John's Island, S.C. on Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17.
Battling strong winds through the first two rounds of play on Sunday, MSU finished the first day of play in ninth place among 15 teams, but fired a 4-under par 284 in the third round – tied for the tournament best round with champion Northwestern – to finish in fourth place.
The Spartans finished the two-day, 54-hole tournament at 34-over par 898 (308-306-284).
Northwestern led from start to finish, posting a 20-over par 884, four shots ahead of Oklahoma, second at 24-over par 888. Ohio State was third at 31-over par 895, followed by the Spartans and Maryland tied for fifth place with Kent State (36-over par 900).
Balanzategui, who was in second place entering the final round, saved her best for last, firing a 3-under par 69 in the third round to finish as the tournament runner-up at 1-under par 215 (71-75-69). Her second-place finish is the best of her collegiate career and her 3-under par 69 is tied for the fifth-lowest round of her career.
Senior Taylor Kehoe tied for 19th place at 8-over par 224 (78-75-71), closing the tournament out with a 1-under par 71 on Monday.
Freshman Memee Pojanalai shot a 2-over par 74 in the final round on Monday and tied for 40th place at 15-over par 231 (79-78-74).
Junior Ana Sofia Murcia tied for 59th place at 19-over par 235 (81-78-76) and sophomore Grace Vetter finished in 83rd place at 6-over par 150 (80-x-70), including a 2-under par 70 in the final round.
Freshman Lucia Valderrama, playing as an individual, tied for 40th place at 15-over par 231 (79-79-73) and senior Shannon Kennedy, also playing as an individual, tied for 46th place at 16-over par 232 (75-80-77).
Michigan State plays next at the Briar's Creek Invitational in John's Island, S.C. on Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17.
Players Mentioned
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