Michigan State women's golf closes gap on 4th place heading into NCAA regional's final round
Michigan State ended the second round of the NCAA Stillwater Regional in the same place it started Tuesday: fifth. But while the Spartans didn't move up the team leaderboard, they cut into the deficit between themselves and fourth place — the final slot that clinches a berth in the NCAA Championships.
Michigan State combined to shoot a 4-over-par 292 Tuesday, which tied Auburn for the second-best score of the day at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The only team better than the Spartans and Tigers: Baylor, which shot 3-under par.
Michigan State's second round was an 11-shot improvement over Monday's opening 18. And it immensely helped the Spartans' hopes of moving on to the NCAA Championships: They trailed fourth place by seven shots after Round 1.
Now, Michigan State (19-over) will enter Wednesday's final round just one stroke behind fourth-place Oklahoma State (18-over), the regional host.
The Spartans could perhaps vault even higher up the leaderboard Wednesday: just five strokes separate second-place Arizona State (14-over) from fifth-place MSU. Clemson, which holds third, is at 17-over through two rounds, one shot better than Oklahoma State and two clear of Michigan State.
Freshman Brooke Biermann led the way for the Spartans on Tuesday, shooting a 1-under-par 71, bettering her first-round score by seven shots. She's tied for 18th on the individual leaderboard.
The top Spartan through two rounds is another sophomore, Valentina Rossi, who is in ninth place at 3-over par after posting an ever-par effort Tuesday. Fellow sophomore Leila Raines is just one stroke behind Rossi. Raines is tied for 13th at 4-over par after recording a 1-over 73 Tuesday.
Senior Valery Plata is tied for 24th (7-over) while junior Nina Rissi, who did not play Monday, shot 9-over in Round 2.
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While MSU is fighting to make nationals for the second straight season — it would be the 13th appearance of coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll's tenure — Baylor (1-over) holds a commanding lead after 36 holes, up by 13 shots on Arizona State.
The Bears also boast the individual leader, as senior Gurleen Kaur, wrapping up the second round at 2-under, owns a one-shot lead over teammates Rosie Belsham and Britta Snyder and Oklahoma State's Maddison Hinson-Tolchard. Kaur claimed the lead Tuesday after posting the low round of the tournament, firing a 5-under 67 that included five birdies and an eagle.
Michigan State is paired with Oklahoma State and Auburn for Wednesday's final round.
Contact Ryan Black at rblack@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU women's golf: Spartans trim deficit on 4th place at NCAA regional
