The Michigan State women’s golf team advanced to the NCAA Championship by finishing in third place at the Norman (Oklahoma) Regional. The Spartans shot a 2-over-par collective score of 290 in the third and final round on Tuesday to finish 1-under par as a team over the three rounds.
MSU and the rest of the field at the Norman Regional had to play 36 holes on Monday due to inclement weather expected later in the week. After MSU shot 3-over-par 291 in the first round, the Spartans shot a blistering 6-under-par 282 in the second round — an MSU program record for the lowest team round in an NCAA Regional, topping the 283 a last year’s regional in East Lansing.
“This is another great accomplishment for this squad, but it’s also something they have expected of themselves,” MSU coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll said. “Our Spartans are always driven and determined, and making it to the National Championship today feels awesome. Once again, we continue to put Michigan State golf on the map.”
Stanford, the top overall seed in the regional and the defending NCAA champion — won the regional shooting 23 under par as a team. Northwestern finished second at 14 under par, while Oklahoma and Baylor finished fourth and fifth in the 12-team field, also qualifying for the NCAA Championship.
MSU junior Taylor Kehoe led the way for the Spartans on Tuesday, firing a 3-under-par 69 to finish in a tie for fifth place individually with a 4-under-par 212 for the tournament. Kehoe had five birdies in Tuesday’s final round, including three on the back nine to help secure MSU’s spot in the NCAA Championship.
MSU seniors Brooke Biermann and Katie Lu tied for 11th place with three-day scores of even-par 216. Sophomore Ana Sofia Murcia tied for 38th place with a 7-over-par 223, and junior Paula Balanzategui finished in 47th place with a 9-over-par 225.
This marks the third straight season that MSU has qualified for the NCAA Championships, which will be played May 16-21 at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California.
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