Quick observations, Player and Coaching Interviews
By Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net
The Fossum Legacy
East Lansing, Mich. — The Mary Fossum Invitational has concluded and its nearly mind blowing that teams come from all over the country in late-September and play in a tournament where most of the players and coaches have never heard of the woman so honored. Fossum was MSU’s first Women’s golf coach (1973-1997) and was a pioneer in not only women’s golf, but women’s sports. She paved the way for many women including current Michigan State Women’s Coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll. In an article researched for this story from the Lansing State Journal, Fossum and her husband Bruce were both longtime coaches at MSU. Under Fossum’s direction from 1973-1997, the Spartans won six Big Ten titles – including five in a row from 1974-78 – and made eight national championship tournament appearances.
“All I can say is that what I’ve tried to do in my life and my time at Michigan State is continue the Fossum legacy and the tradition of excellence she started at MSU,” Slobodnik-Stoll said.
2024 Mary Fossum Invite- Observations and Interviews – I
- Women’s Collegiate golfers love the MSU Forest Akers golf course. Watching the final round of the NCAA Regional in May and some of this tournament, the ladies are better than ever and a good place to start bragging is with Ole Miss golfer Caitlyn Macnab. Last spring, USC’s Bailey Shoemaker broke the Forest Akers West course record of 65 to shoot 64, Macnab did one stroke better. MSU’s Brooke Biermann tied the 64 just one day later. In all, three Ole Miss golfers finished in the top five in the tournament.
Teams Carving up the par fives
At just over 6300 yards, not sure where MSU can add yardage. Of the 75 golfers among 15 teams and 60 counted scores each round, 37 players out of 60 finished with cumulative scores of even par or better. All five Ole Miss players were even par or better. Three of four Michigan players were at least (-2). Notre Dame did the same. Host Michigan State had four players at even or better led by Kehoe at (-4). This is a hard course. The women can rightfully say they have ‘come a long way baby.’
Observations and Interviews II
Stacy Slobnik-Stoll and Bryan Harris (Video Interview at the bottom of this column) are out to make MSU a collegiate destination for Women to play all over the country and Harris’ reaches out to the NCAA and they are listening. Neither is afraid to bring the best players to East Lansing to play the Spartans. It helps all of the teams to see where they measure up against many of the best women in the country. In an interview to be released later this week, Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll and I spoke about her MSU teams aspirations in both the B1G and nationally. Four B1G teams played in the tournament. (Michigan, MSU, Purdue and Minnesota).
Final Observation- How low can you go?
Women are increasingly shooting low scores. Anyone that watches college golf and I am guilty knows the women are not only coming, they are already shooting low numbers and they will get lower.
Scores shot in the 60’s by Team/Individual Players
Ole Miss -4
MSU – 2
Florida- 1
If you count rounds at par or better, the entire field shot 32 rounds at 72 or less.
MSU Golf Pro Bryan Harris on Jr. and Collegiate Golf coming to MSU
Coaches and teams that want coverage need to reach out to rjakers2002@yahoo.com for interviews, and to send press releases. We also drone golf courses. Check us out on our drone page.
Roy J. Akers is a multi-media reporter and covers several sports for www.skyviewsports.net
