The Mary Fossum Invitational draws teams from all over the US to come to Michigan State University
Interviews coming on Tuesday and will be in their own story.
By Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net
Round One- Sunday AM
East Lansing, Michigan — MSU has built a Midwest Collegiate women’s powerhouse, but it was Ole Miss that put this tournament away after a grueling 36 hole day where they were nearly 20 shots ahead of the second place team. Ole Miss built their lead when they went up 10 shots over Florida and 13 over Minnesota after 18 holes. Caitlyn Macnab broke the all-time course record in Round 1 and played to a nine under 63. Macnab’s Ole Miss teammate Nicole Gal opened with a four under 68. All in all, five Ole Miss golfers carded rounds no worse than 74 counting the top four scores. MSU’s Brooke Biermann shot 68 and Florida’s Addison Klonowski had a 67. Teams came from Deleware to the East, three Florida schools and Four B1G schools plus Notre Dame and the MAC.
Round Two- Sunday PM
The PM round on Day One was played during on and off again showers and the Golden Golpher’s had the low round by a team (287). Ole Miss was two shots behind at (289) and host MSU came in third at 292. Ole Miss Sophie Linder was the only golfer in the field shooting under 70 and she came in at four under 68.
Round 3- Final Day
Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll has coached MSU to 24 Regional appearances in 27 years and she relies on Brooke Biermann and Katie Lu, both Sr.’s to guide the Spartans this season. Biermann shot the old course record of 64, just broken by Macnab the day before. by a stroke. Last spring, USC’s Bailey Shoemaker also carded a 64 in the NCAA Regional hosted by MSU. MSU was (-8) on the day with a team score of 280 to Ole Miss finishing with a (-4) 284 score. Florida and Miami also made moves up the scoreboard. In the end, Ole Miss takes home the Crystal, Macnab the medalist honors. MSU finishes second and Minnesota third.
Analyzing how it happened
Ole Miss by the numbers.
The Rebels placed all five of their golfers in the top 25 and never had to consider a score worse than a 73 in all three rounds. Macnab had two of the four scores placed in the 60’s by the Rebs. As a team, Ole Miss was second in the tournament shooting (+1) on the par threes, were a whopping eight shots better at (E) over MSU and went (-8) on the par 5’s. MSU was second on the par fives at (-6)
MSU by the Numbers
MSU placed five players in the top 29 in the tournament including three players, Brooke Biermann (T-2), Taylor Kehoe (T-9) and Katie Lu (T-9). Catalina Monroy was T-15th. In all, MSU had three rounds played in the 60’s. Two by Biermann and one by Kehoe. MSU was second in the tournament on the par fours with (+8) and second to Ole Miss on the par- 3’s . The Spartans trailed Ole Miss by two shots on the par fives for the entire tournament.
3rd Place Minnesota by the Numbers
The Golden Gophers placed four players in the top 20 in the tournament. The fifth player was outside that number meaning they had to count on their top four. Isabella McCauley was their low shooter with rounds of (71-71-74-216) and finished T-7. As a team, they were consistent on the par 3’s and were third in the tournament. They finished third in the par fours and fifth playing the par fives. A quality tournament.
Your Medalist- Caitlyn Macnab by the numbers
Caityn Macnab went low in two of the three rounds of the Mary Fossum Int. Her Sunday morning round of 63 broke the course record of USC’s Bailey Shoemaker, who tuned Forest Akers West with a 64 during last springs NCAA Regional . Macnab carded seven birdies and an eagle. Macnab birdied the par four 18th in round one. Few players do that. Her afternoon round on Sunday was played at 73. Her final round was played to a four under 68. Her goal is to play on the LPGA Tour. Bet you see her in some Monday qualifiers or making the field with sponsors exceptions.
MSU’s Brooke Biermann- By the Numbers
The Sr. has put together her own very strong tournament carding scores of (68-73-64) Her final day score was good enough to tie the course record that was broken by Macnab. She had eight birdies on the gloomy Monday and nearly tied for tournament low honors. Biermann, like Macnab, birdied the 18th. Biermann also birdied the 12th hole, a 182 yard par three that played as the tournaments toughest hole. Her consistency is why she is one gritty Spartan. She tied for the tournament low of (-4) on the par threes, was second on the par fours at (-4) and was T4 on the par fives counting the 80 players in the tournament.
Leaderboard for the players
Golf Stat- Toughest Holes at Forest Akers West for the Mary Fossum Invitational
Roy J. Akers is a multi-media reporter and covers several sports for www.skyviewsports.net
