Golf Takes Balanzategui from Spain to East Lansing

By Jacob Catalina

For msuspartans.com
 
Michigan State sophomore golfer Paula Balanzategui has traveled far to play at the collegiate level, crossing an ocean and leaving home many hours away. Balanzategui grew up in San Sebastian, Spain, and originally was into tennis, thanks to her dad. She had a group of friends in tennis that then switched over to playing golf.
 
She enjoyed both sports but a busy workload began to overwhelm her schedule.
 
“My parents said that I do not have time for both so I must pick one,” Balanzategui said. “All my friends picked golf and nowadays I am the only one that still plays.”
 
The pursuit of golf has worked out, as she has become one of the top golfers for a Michigan State team making its third appearance in the NCAA Championships in the last four years this weekend.
 
Balanzategui, who was named a Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar last year, had a promising freshman season in 2022-23 and has started to blossom this year as a sophomore.
 
Her golf game is centered on driving, as she takes pride in her ability to hit the ball far through her mental toughness.
 
“Since I was very young, I always hit the ball harder than the people I was playing against,” she explained. “I think it’s because I grew up playing with boys and I didn’t want to be behind them.”
 
Balanzategui’s journey to Michigan State happened because of another Spartan golfer from Spain.
 
Her initial interest in playing golf at the college level started when she was 14.  Balanzategui met fellow Spanish golfer, Paz Marfa Sans, who was looking for scholarships to play in the United States.
 
“There are no big schools where you can practice a sport and study at the same time in Spain,” Balanzategui said. “It’s not the same but coming to a school like Michigan State has provided me that opportunity.”
 
When she started looking for places to continue her golf career, it was only natural that she focused on Michigan State because Marfa Sans came to East Lansing in 2016 and graduated in 2020 when Balanzategui’s search began in earnest.
 
“When I started my process off, I texted her and she said her coach was interested in me,” said Balanzategui. “Knowing that Paz came to Michigan State and really had a good experience meant a lot to me.”
 
The pandemic…