Women's Golf Places Fourth at Hooters Match Play Championship

Nov. 4, 2008

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Michigan State women's golf team placed fourth in the Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship as the three-day tournament concluded Tuesday at the Ginn Reunion Resort. The tournament featured 16 teams - 15 of which were ranked in the top 30, including seven in the top 10. After advancing to the championship bracket and getting the upset win over No. 1 UCLA in the first round, the Spartans fell to fifth-seeded Duke in the semifinals and seventh-seeded Denver in the third-place match. Duke is ranked 10th in the latest Golfweek/Sagarin ratings, while Denver is 16th.

The Spartans and Blue Devils concluded their suspended match from Monday in the morning. On Monday, Laura Kueny and Lindsey Solberg were victorious, as Kueny defeated No. 10 Mina Harigae, 2 and 1, and Solberg beat Yu Young Lee, 3 and 2. Aimee Neff fell to Amanda Blumenherst, 4 and 2, and Alison Whitaker topped Shannon Warner, 5 and 4.

In the deciding fifth and suspended match, Michelle Bowles was all square after 16 holes with Kim Donovan. They picked up action on the 17th, where Donovan won the hole with a 4 while Bowles carded a 5. Both players recorded a 5 on the 18th, as Duke edged out the victory, 1 up.

In the third-place match, the Spartans fell to Denver, 3-1-1. Solberg was the lone Spartan to come away with a victory, topping Sarah Faller, 5 and 4. Solberg finished a perfect 3-0 in match play.

Kueny halved her match with Katie Kempter and remained undefeated in her two years playing at the Hooters Match Play Championship. Kueny went 1-0-1 last fall at the tournament and 2-0-1 this year.

Neff battled Stephanie Sherlock, the No. 2 ranked player in the country, but came up short, 3 and 2. Bowles lost to Dawn Shockley, 6 and 4, and ShanWarner dropped a 5 and 4 decision to Sarah Djos.

Duke went on to defeat Alabama in the final championship match, 4-1, to claim the title.

The fourth-place finish at the Hooters Collegiate Match Play Tournament wraps up a successful fall season for the Spartan women's golf team. MSU opened the year by winning the Mary Fossum Invitational (Sept. 20-21) at Forest Akers West. The Spartans then placed 10th at the Tar Heel Invitational (Oct. 3-5) before taking second at the Lady Northern Invitational (Oct. 18-19) in West Lafayette, Ind.

Michigan State resumes action Feb. 9-11 at the Regional Challenge in Palos Verdes, Calif.

Championship Bracket Semifinal: No. 5 Duke def. No. 8 Michigan State, 3-2
Amanda Blumenherst, Duke def. Aimee Neff, MSU, 4&2
Kim Donovan, Duke def. Michelle Bowles, MSU, 1 Up
Mina Harigae, Duke lost to Laura Kueny, MSU, 2&1
Yu Young Lee, Duke lost to Lindsey Solberg, MSU, 3&2
Alison Whitaker, Duke def. Shannon Warner, MSU, 5&4

Third-Place Match: No. 7 Denver def. No. 8 Michigan State, 3-1-1
Stephanie Sherlock, DU def. Aimee Neff, MSU, 3&2
Dawn Shockley, DU def. Michelle Bowles, MSU, 6&4
Katie Kempter, DU and Laura Kueny, MSU, Halved
Sarah Faller, DU lost to Lindsey Solberg, MSU, 5&4
Sarah Djos, DU def. Shannon Warner, MSU, 5&4