Spartans Tied for Fifth Place Following First Round of UCF Challenge

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State’s women’s golf team shot an 8-under par 280 in the first round and is tied for fifth place in a field of 18 teams at the UCF Challenge, being played at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, Fla.

The tournament is being played on the par-72, 6,349-yard course and continues with the second round on Monday, Feb. 6.

First Round Results

Wake Forest, ranked No. 2 in the country, leads the field at 20-under par 268, with Northwestern in second place at 16-under par 272, No. 11 Mississippi State and host UCF tied for third at 11-under par 277 and the Spartans are tied for fifth place with the College of Charleston.

Sophomore Brooke Biermann was the top finisher for the Spartans, firing a 4-under par 68 and completing the first round in a tie for ninth place in the field of 95 golfers. Biermann played the front nine in even par and finished the back in 4-under par, with two birdies and an eagle.

Sophomore Shannon Kennedy is tied for 22nd place after a 2-under par 70 on Sunday. Kennedy finished her round with three bridies and 14 pars.

Junior Leila Raines and sophomore Katie Lu each posted scores of 1-under par 71 and are tied for 34th place. Both Raines and Lu posted bridies on three of the final six holes to finish their rounds.

Junior Valentina Rossi carded a 4-over par 76 and is tied for 84th place. Freshman Paula Balanzategui, playing as an individual, also shot a 4-over par 76 and is tied with Rossi and four others.

The Spartans will tee off starting at 9:15 a.m., playing alongside the College of Charleston and UCF.