Spartans Post Tournament-Best Round to Finish in Fourth Place at the Spartan Sun Coast Invitational
Story & Taylor Kehoe Photo: Spartans Golf

Led by senior Paula Balanzategui, Michigan State’s women’s golf team tied for the lowest round of the tournament and surged from ninth place to a fourth-place finish at the Spartan Sun Coast Invitational, played on the Palm Aires Champions Course (par-72, 6,191-yards) in Sarasota, Fla.

Battling strong winds through the first two rounds of play on Sunday, MSU finished the first day of play in ninth place among 15 teams, but fired a 4-under par 284 in the third round – tied for the tournament best round with champion Northwestern – to finish in fourth place.

The Spartans finished the two-day, 54-hole tournament at 34-over par 898 (308-306-284).

Northwestern led from start to finish, posting a 20-over par 884, four shots ahead of Oklahoma, second at 24-over par 888. Ohio State was third at 31-over par 895, followed by the Spartans and Maryland tied for fifth place with Kent State (36-over par 900).

Balanzategui, who was in second place entering the final round, saved her best for last, firing a 3-under par 69 in the third round to finish as the tournament runner-up at 1-under par 215 (71-75-69). Her second-place finish is the best of her collegiate career and her 3-under par 69 is tied for the fifth-lowest round of her career.

Senior Taylor Kehoe of Strathroy tied for 19th place at 8-over par 224 (78-75-71), closing the tournament out with a 1-under par 71 on Monday.

Freshman Memee Pojanalai shot a 2-over par 74 in the final round on Monday and tied for 40th place at 15-over par 231 (79-78-74).

Junior Ana Sofia Murcia tied for 59th place at 19-over par 235 (81-78-76) and sophomore Grace Vetter finished in 83rd place at 6-over par 150 (80-x-70), including a 2-under par 70 in the final round.

Freshman Lucia Valderrama, playing as an individual, tied for 40th place at 15-over par 231 (79-79-73) and senior Shannon Kennedy, also playing as an individual, tied for 46th place at 16-over par 232 (75-80-77).

Michigan State plays next at the Briar’s Creek Invitational in John’s Island, S.C. on Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17.