Lady Spartans Win IU Spring Challenge
The Michigan State women’s golf team recorded its lowest score of the season in winning the IU Spring Challenge on Monday, April 5 in Sellersburg, Indiana. The Spartans’ 15-under-par 849 (284-285-280) topped the five-team field and second place Notre Dame by 32 shots.
MSU’s 8-under-par 280 on Monday was their lowest round of the tournament at The Covered Bridge Golf Club.
Valery Plata’s 7-under-par 65 on Monday was the third-lowest score in program history. It was one of two rounds in the tournament by Plata in the 60s as she shot a 3-under-par 69 in yesterday’s opening round. She ended the tournament 7-under-par 209 (69-75-65) to take second place, finishing three shots behind Notre Dame’s Lauren Beaudreau.
“We needed this,” MSU head coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll said. “This tournament was a great opportunity for us and turned out the way we wanted it to. It was nice to be in the van with the team and it gave everyone the opportunity to play on the grass that we’re more used to playing on. It was also awesome to see Valery shoot the lowest round of her career.”
Plata was one of five Spartans to occupy the top six spots. Yurika Tanida (73-70-71) and Haylin Harris (73-68-73) both finished 2-under-par 214 to tie for third place.
Leila Raines was even-par 216 (71-72-73), which put her in fifth place. Paz Marfa Sans closed Monday with her second 1-under-par 71 of the tournament and finished 1-over-par 217 (71-75-71).
Monday marked the second tournament win of the season for MSU, which claimed the FAU Paradise Invitational title in early February.
The Spartans will return to Indiana for the Indiana Invitational, April 17-18, for their last event prior to the Big Ten Championships, April 23-25.
Spartans Win Hoosier Invite; James Piot Takes Medalist Honors
The Michigan State men’s golf team won its first tournament of the season over the first weekend of April, taking home the title at the Hoosier Collegiate Invitational in Bloomington, Indiana. Not only did the Spartans capture the team trophy, but senior James Piot also took medalist honors to give the Spartans a sweep of the hardware.
“Winning in golf is hard and on a course like this it’s even harder,” MSU head coach Casey Lubahn said. “Getting a win is great – we’ve been knocking on the door all spring so it feels good to get the job done. Hopefully this will propel us going forward.”
The Spartans led after two rounds on Saturday and didn’t let up over the final 18 holes on Sunday. On the newly constructed 7,432-yard Pfau Course, the Spartans were 14-over-par 298 in the final round and were 33-over-par 885 (298-289-298) for the tournament. MSU finished seven shots ahead of host Indiana and 12 ahead of third-place Nebraska.
The individual title was Piot’s first of the season and third of his career. Piot shot a 2-over-par 73 on Sunday to finish the event 2-over-par 215 (72-70-73).
“James kind of dominated all week – it’s just who he is. He’s one of the best in the league and in the country,” Lubahn said.
Piot was one of three Spartans in the top 15 as Bradley Smithson had his best career finish in tying for seventh place, while Andrew Walker tied for 15th place. Smithson carded a 5-over-par 76 on Sunday and was 10-over-par 223 (75-72-76) for the tournament. Walker shot his third consecutive 4-over-par 75 on Sunday and was 12-over-par 225.
For Walker, it marked the third time in four tournaments this season that he placed among the top 15.
“I think all five guys in the lineup contributed at the right moment this weekend,” Lubahn said. “That’s what it takes – it takes all five guys. I think we’re a good team and were starting to see that every week now.”
A birdie on the final hole helped August Meekhof shoot his best round of the tournament on Sunday with a 3-over-par 74. He finished 14-over-par 227 (77-76-74) and tied for 21st place.
Troy Taylor II was 16-over-par 229 (76-72-81) and tied for 29th place.
