The women’s golf team opened its season Sunday, with its only home match of the season at the Mary Fossum Invitational at Forest Akers West Golf Course.

The tournament was originally a two-day event but was shortened to Sunday, after rain from Friday’s storm flooded the course.

“The course has been pretty wet all day (Sunday),” said sophomore Shellie Morton.

“It’s really slowed down play.”

The flooding cut the three-round invitational to only one round of golf.

“Not having the rounds yesterday (Saturday) doesn’t leave us a lot of room for error,” Morton said.

Minnesota finished first with a team total of 296 and Kent State finished second with an overall score of 299.

MSU finished the invitational in fourth with a team total of 302 points, one point above third place Northwestern with 301.

Minnesota’s Jenny Bruun shot a 70, two under par, tying Michigan golfer Kim Benedict. Bruun won the tiebreaker, becoming the overall individual medalist in the invitational.

MSU head coach Stacy Slobodnik said the team was at a disadvantage due to the shortened competition.

“We’re not happy with this finish, I think we could have done a lot better,” Slobodnik said.

“I think if we had played all three rounds like we were supposed to, we would have had a better chance.”

MSU’s top scores came from junior Stacy Snider, who shot 74, two points over par, and senior Kasey Gant, who shot a 75.

With all players returning, MSU assistant coach Ellen Bishop said that the No. 20 Spartans’ depth should be one of its strengths.

“Our big leaders this year are Kasey, Stacy and (junior) Emily (Bastel). The last two spots are really up in the air. There’s a lot of competition for those spots.”

Slobodnik said that despite the letdown the team has high expectations this season.

“We want to win the Big Ten this year and definitely finish in the top ten. We’re deep in experience this year and that’s why I think it’s possible,” Slobodnik said.

MSU’s next match is the Lady Northern Invitational in Minneapolis on Friday.