Michigan State Holds Lead Going to Final Round at NCAA Palm Beach Regional

Tuesday, May 9

PGA National Resort (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)

Michigan State University

NCAA Regionals

Photo by: Brian Tirpak

Michigan State Holds Lead Going to Final Round at NCAA Palm Beach Regional

5/9/2023 3:48:00 PM | Women's Golf

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Biermann Tied for Third to Lead Three Spartans Among the Top-10

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State's women's golf team shot an 8-over par 296 on Tuesday and has three individuals among the top-10 overall and the Spartans continue to lead the field at the NCAA Palm Beach Regional, being played at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

The three-day, 54-hole event, being played on the par-72, 6,312-yard course at PGA National, concludes on Wednesday with 18 holes.

The top five teams and two individuals (not among the top five teams) will advance from regional competition to play in the NCAA Championships, which will be held from May 19-24 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.

"I think we fought hard out there today," Head Coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll said. "The wind definitely picked up this afternoon so coming through those last couple of holes was a little bit tougher. All in all, everyone is still feeling pretty good about what we're doing and we're just going have a big meeting tonight about where the plans will be and having a good plan for our back nine."

The Spartans entered Tuesday's second round with an 11-shot lead after firing a 3-under par 285 on Monday, the second-best round of the regional.

Following an 8-over par 296 on Tuesday, MSU enters the final round with a score of 5-over par 581, three shots ahead of second place Northwestern (8-over par 584), who posted a regional-best 4-under par 284.

Duke is in third place at 12-over par 588, while South Florida and Teas are tied for fourth place at 13-over par 589.

The Spartans continue to be paced by sophomore Brooke Biermann, who shot a 1-over par 73 on Tuesday and is tied for third place at 2-under par 142 (69-73). Starting on the first hole in Tuesday's round, Biermann played the front nine in +1 with three bogies and two birdies, but came back to play the back nine at even par.

"The first two holes I bogied and I didn't hit bad shots, but just got myself in bad positions," Biermann said. "I just told myself to keep being patient out there. I knew the wind would pick up on the back nine, which is the tougher nine, so I just kept patient and did the best I could and ended up playing better. Shots aren't always going to go on the green, but you have to get up and down and grind when you can."

Junior Valentina Rossi shot a 2-over par 74 on Tuesday and is seventh place at 1-over par 145. She went through the front nine at 1-under par, but had three bogies on the back nine to finish at 2-over par.

Junior Leila Raines moved up eight places and is tied for eighth place in the field of 66 golfers at 2-over par 146 (74-72) after an even-par 72 on Tuesday, the best round of the day for the Spartans. Raines finished her day with five birdies and nine pars.

Sophomore Katie Lu struggled in the second round, finishing with an 8-over par 80 and is tied for 36th place at 7-over par 151 (71-80).

Sophomore Shannon Kennedy had the final counting score for MSU in the second round with a 5-over par 77. Kennedy is tied for 51st place at 12-over par 156 (79-77).

The Spartans tee off on Tuesday morning at 9:06 a.m., playing alongside Northwestern and Duke.

"The vibes have been good all week with the team," Biermann said. "I'll have to talk to them, but I think we're really pumped. We just have to keep doing what we're doing and stay focused on what we need to do."
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