From MSU Women’s Golf
Last month in the LPGA Tour’s Qualifying Series, former Michigan State women’s golfer Valery Plata finished tied for third to earn her LPGA Tour card for 2023. Only the top 20 golfers and ties earn exemptions to the LPGA Tour, after grueling eight rounds of competition.
“I’m still kind of in a daze to realize that this dream of mine is now a reality. This is just the start of the journey and I know I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I’m proud of myself and so thankful for all of the people who have supported me along the way, especially my family and my long-time coach, Pedro Russi. Coming to Michigan State was a big part of my journey and I can’t thank Head Coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll and all the coaches for their guidance, not only on the course as a golfer, but for me as a person and as a student. My teammates are some of my best friends and their texts and messages these last two weeks meant the world to me. I’m a Spartan for Life and can’t wait to represent MSU on the LPGA Tour.”
Plata, who played her final semester with the Spartans last year and turned professional in November.
“We are thrilled for Valery,” MSU Head Coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll said. “This has been a dream of hers since she came to Michigan State five years ago and it’s an incredible feeling to see her not only earn full status on the LPGA Tour in her first try, but also putting herself in a position to win Q Series.”
Plata had one of the best careers in Michigan State history. She was a three-time All-Big Ten First Team selection and was the league’s Player of the Year in 2020, when she was selected an honorable mention All-American by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association. Plata owns two of the top-10 single season scoring averages in program history, with her 72.26 average in 2021 third all-time last year’s 72.63 average seventh all-time. She finishes her career ranked third all-time in scoring average at Michigan State (73.15).
Plata, who reached the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur in 2020 and the round of 32 in 2021, had an incredible summer in 2022, tying for second place during the first leg of the LPGA Q Series in California and played in three professional events, the AIG Women’s Open in Scotland, the Amundi Evian Championship in France and in the Meijer Classic.
