Michigan State University Athletics
Raines Set to Represent MSU at NCAA Championships
5/19/2022 4:53:00 PM | Women's Golf
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State sophomore women's golfer Leila Raines will take part in the NCAA Championships beginning on Friday, May 20 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Raines will be one of 12 individuals along with 24 teams (132 players) competing over 54 holes from Friday, May 20 to Sunday, May 22.
The championship format in Scottsdale will include 24 teams and 12 individuals completing 54 holes of stroke play, and then the top 15 teams along with the top nine individuals not on an advancing team competing for one additional day of stroke play to determine the top eight teams for match play competition and the 72-hole stroke play individual champion. The top eight teams then compete in match play for the team national championship to be decided May 25.
Raines, along with MSU Head Coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll and associate head coach Caroline Powers-Ellis, left for Arizona on Wednesday morning and were slated for a practice round at Grayhawk on Thursday.
"I'm super excited obviously," Raines said. "I'd much rather be here with my team, but to be able to experience Grayhawk and Nationals again, it's only my sophomore year so being able to go twice so far, it's been awesome. I'm really looking forward to the experience."
Michigan State finished in fifth place at last week's NCAA Stillwater Regional in Oklahoma, missing out on advancing as a team by just four shots. Raines, however, was the top finisher for the Spartans, finishing in a tie for 10th place at 3-over par 219. She tied with three other players and advanced out of the regional after winning the playoff.
"It wasn't until I signed my scorecard (at the end) that I realized it," she said. "My coach told me to keep my head up and my mind right because you may be going out in a playoff. I was still hoping we'd make it as a team, but it was pretty awesome to make it as an individual."
The playoff hole was the par-5,445-yard 18th hole at Karsten Creek, a hole she had birdied twice and parred once during the three rounds. Each of the four players posted birdies and going back to tee off at 18 again, Raines was thinking eagle.
"That hole during the tournament was gettable," Raines said. "I knew it was possible. I knew there'd be some eagles out there on the hole. I had a really good approach, made a putt and was lucky to be in that position."
Starting on Friday – Raines tees off at 1:30 p.m. (ET) – Raines will be in position to play for some individual glory. She experienced playing in the NCAA Championships last year with the MSU team during her freshman year and has a better understanding of how to handle it.
"I think managing emotions on the course is a huge thing I've learned from my teammates and coaches," Raines said. "You want to do well for your team, but if you put that pressure on yourself, it can often get the best of you. Learning how to channel those emotions and going out there with a one-shot-at-a-time mindset has been really helpful and I'm hoping to carry that over this week."
This marks the 15th team or individual appearance by Michigan State at the NCAA Championships since 2000. The last time MSU had an individual play at the National Championships was 2019, when Allyson Geer-Park and Haylin Harris both qualified out of the East Lansing Regional.
The best finish by a Spartan to compete individually at the NCAA Championships was by current assistant coach Caroline Powers-Ellis, who tied for sixth in 2011.
Raines will be one of 12 individuals along with 24 teams (132 players) competing over 54 holes from Friday, May 20 to Sunday, May 22.
The championship format in Scottsdale will include 24 teams and 12 individuals completing 54 holes of stroke play, and then the top 15 teams along with the top nine individuals not on an advancing team competing for one additional day of stroke play to determine the top eight teams for match play competition and the 72-hole stroke play individual champion. The top eight teams then compete in match play for the team national championship to be decided May 25.
Raines, along with MSU Head Coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll and associate head coach Caroline Powers-Ellis, left for Arizona on Wednesday morning and were slated for a practice round at Grayhawk on Thursday.
"I'm super excited obviously," Raines said. "I'd much rather be here with my team, but to be able to experience Grayhawk and Nationals again, it's only my sophomore year so being able to go twice so far, it's been awesome. I'm really looking forward to the experience."
Michigan State finished in fifth place at last week's NCAA Stillwater Regional in Oklahoma, missing out on advancing as a team by just four shots. Raines, however, was the top finisher for the Spartans, finishing in a tie for 10th place at 3-over par 219. She tied with three other players and advanced out of the regional after winning the playoff.
"It wasn't until I signed my scorecard (at the end) that I realized it," she said. "My coach told me to keep my head up and my mind right because you may be going out in a playoff. I was still hoping we'd make it as a team, but it was pretty awesome to make it as an individual."
The playoff hole was the par-5,445-yard 18th hole at Karsten Creek, a hole she had birdied twice and parred once during the three rounds. Each of the four players posted birdies and going back to tee off at 18 again, Raines was thinking eagle.
"That hole during the tournament was gettable," Raines said. "I knew it was possible. I knew there'd be some eagles out there on the hole. I had a really good approach, made a putt and was lucky to be in that position."
Starting on Friday – Raines tees off at 1:30 p.m. (ET) – Raines will be in position to play for some individual glory. She experienced playing in the NCAA Championships last year with the MSU team during her freshman year and has a better understanding of how to handle it.
"I think managing emotions on the course is a huge thing I've learned from my teammates and coaches," Raines said. "You want to do well for your team, but if you put that pressure on yourself, it can often get the best of you. Learning how to channel those emotions and going out there with a one-shot-at-a-time mindset has been really helpful and I'm hoping to carry that over this week."
This marks the 15th team or individual appearance by Michigan State at the NCAA Championships since 2000. The last time MSU had an individual play at the National Championships was 2019, when Allyson Geer-Park and Haylin Harris both qualified out of the East Lansing Regional.
The best finish by a Spartan to compete individually at the NCAA Championships was by current assistant coach Caroline Powers-Ellis, who tied for sixth in 2011.
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, May 20
Monday, February 10
Tuesday, October 01
Tuesday, May 21