East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State junior women’s golfer Katie Lu entered the final round of play in the lead and held on for a one-shot victory, taking medalist honors at the Mary Fossum Invitational and the Spartans finished second in the team standings in the 15-team field.
The Spartans entered the final round of play with an 8-shot advantage over second place Purdue, but MSU posted a 14-over par 302 in the final round and finished second at 4-over par 868 (285-281-302).
Purdue posted the best round of the day, and the team’s seconds-straight 4-under par 284, to move into the lead around the turn and finished in first at 6-under par 858 (290-284-284). MSU was second, with Ohio State third (15-over par 879), Maryland fourth (17-over par 881) and Tennessee in fifth place (20-over par 884).
The tournament was played on the par-72, 6,370 yard course at Forest Akers West, which will serve as a host for one of six NCAA Regionals in May 2024.
Lu won her first collegiate event by shooting a 2-over par 74 in the final round to finish at 3-under par 213 (70-69-74). She held off a late run from Purdue’s Ashley Kozlowski, who finished in second at 2-under par 214, with a par on the 18th hole to claim the title.
In winning, Lu claims the 13th Mary Fossum Invitational title for an MSU golfer and she is the 11th Spartan to win the title at least once.
Junior Leila Raines had the best round of the day for the Spartans with a 1-over par 73 and finished in third place at 1-under par 215 (73-69-73).
Junior Brooke Biermann tied for 15th place at 3-over par 219 (71-71-77). Biermann, who was tied for second place entering the final day after back-to-back rounds of 1-under par 71, finished with a 5-over par 77 on Monday.
Senior Valentina Rossi finished in a tie for 43rd place at 12-over par 228 (72-78-78) and junior Shannon Kennedy tied for 52nd place at 14-over par 230 (72-72-86).
Four Spartans are playing as individuals, led by freshman Ana Sofia Murcia, who finished in a tie for 19th place at 5-over par 221 (75-72-74).
Sophomore Paula Balanzategui had her best round of the tournament with a 1-under par 71, finishing in a tie for 43rd place at 12-over par 228 (79-78-71). Freshman Ella Weber tied for 62nd place at 16-over par 232 (79-73-80) and sophomore Caroline McConnell tied for 77th place at 25-over par 241 (78-83-80).
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