Kasey Gant Makes The Cut In First-Ever LPGA Event
8/25/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Aug. 25, 2000
East Lansing, Mich. - Spartan golfer Kasey Gant, who will begin her senior year at MSU in just two days, made the cut in her first-ever LPGA event. Playing as an amateur, Gant stands at 3-under par following the second round of play at the Oldsmobile Classic at the Walnut Hills Country Club in East Lansing.
Gant, who received one of two sponsor exemptions to play in the tournament, shot a 70 on Friday, Aug. 25 on the par-72 course and is in a tie with eight other players for 34th at 141. A native of Fort Wayne, Ind., Gant opened tournament play on Thursday by shooting a 71.
Karrie Webb, the top-ranked player in the world, leads the tournament at 17-under after firing an LPGA-record 61 on Friday.
Two former Spartan standouts are among the top 10 in the $750,000 event. Becky Iverson (1986-88) is tied for sixth at 7-under with rounds of 69 and 68, while Barb Mucha (1983-84) is tied for 10th at 6-under following rounds of 70 and 68.
Iverson is having one of her best years since joining the tour in 1994. Last week, she was runner-up at the British Open and she stands 24th on the money list with $268,257 in earnings this year.
Mucha, who has been on tour since 1987, ranks 66th on the money list with $104,179 in earnings this year. She ranks among the top 40 in career earnings at close to $2 million.
Spartan alum Jennifer (Kangas) Brody, who received the other tournament exemption, missed making the cut (even par) by just one stroke, finishing at 1-over (75-70). Brody had a successful 2000 season on the FUTURES tour, finishing seventh on the money list and winning a pair of tournaments. She will attempt to qualify for the LPGA Tour in October.
Michigan State opens the 2000-01 season Sept. 23-24 when it hosts the Mary Fossum Invitational at Forest Akers West Golf Course. Spartan coach Stacy Slobodnik returns her top six players from last year's team that finished second at the Big Ten Championship and earned its first trip to the NCAA Championship since 1984.