Michigan State University Athletics
Women's Golf Hosts Mary Fossum Invite
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
September 8, 1998
TEE TIME: The 1998-99 Michigan State women's golf season gets underway this weekend with the Mary Fossum Invitational at Forest Akers West Course, the Spartans' only home event of the year. Tee times begin at 8:30 a.m. on the 1st and 10th holes Saturday and Sunday, as the Spartans shoot for the team title after finishing second to Indiana last year.
DEFENDING CHAMP: Sophomore Kasey Gant made a memorable collegiate debut in last year's Fossum Invitational, capturing medalist honors behind a third-round 70, then an MSU record. Gant sank a long, breaking birdie putt on the 18th to set the record. She went on to continue that success throughout the 1997-98 season, leading the team in stroke average and winning another tournament. She broke her 18-hole record with a 69 later in the year and set two more school records as well. Gant will look to defend her Fossum Invitational championship this weekend.
WHO ELSE IS BACK?: Five out of six regular starters return, led by Gant and senior Meggan Schumaker, who also averaged in the 70s last season. Seniors Ellen Bishop and Kellie Dennis have shown the ability to break 80 on a regular basis as well.
WHO IS NEW?: Michigan State has a strong freshman class, led by Grand Rapids' Stacy Snider and Emily Bastel of Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Snider was ranked No. 29 in the nation in Golf Week's girls rankings last year and could make an immediate impact. Which freshmen and redshirt freshmen will appear in the lineup will be determined later this week by head coach Stacy Slobodnik.
STORYLINE: Kasey Gant's sister, Cindy, plays for Toledo, one of the 12 teams visiting Forest Akers this weekend.
STORYLINE II: Time will tell if MSU can match the success head coach Stacy Slobodnik enjoyed this summer. Slobodnik won the state amatuer and the state stroke play championship and qualified for the U.S. Women's Amateur.
