Coming off a strong showing in Ohio last weekend, the women’s golf team starts its run at back-to-back Big Ten titles today in Urbana, Ill.
For the first time in 19 years, the Spartans are the defending conference champions heading into the league championships. This year’s four-round Big Ten event runs from today through Sunday at Illinois’ Stone Creek Golf Course.
The Spartans, who edged up a spot to No. 12 in this week’s national rankings, are considered the second-best squad behind Ohio State. At the rain-shortened Lady Buckeye Invitational last week, the Spartans finished one stroke behind the fourth-ranked Buckeyes through two rounds.
“Obviously, we were very disappointed not being able to finish that tournament,” MSU head coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll said. “We felt like we had a very legitimate chance to win and I think we were well on our way of doing that when the rain came, but that’s the way it goes.
“I think it also put more fuel to the fire because Ohio State beat us by one stroke last year at Ohio State and they did it again this year. That will serve its purpose at Big Tens, knowing that this week is really the week that matters and we want to make sure no one beats us by one.”
MSU faces the added challenge of having the proverbial target on its back as defending champions this weekend. The Spartans and Ohio State seem to be the cream of the 11-team field, but those teams could receive challenges from Purdue, Michigan, Northwestern or Indiana.
As usual, the Spartans figure to be led by their “big three” this weekend - seniors Emily Bastel and Stacy Snider and sophomore Allison Fouch. Bastel fell to No. 13 in this week’s national individual rankings, but still is the highest-ranked Big Ten golfer by far.
She has won two of her last three tournaments and finished in a tie for second at the Lady Buckeye last weekend.
Both Fouch (tie for second) and Snider (fourth) had success at last year’s championship and want to build on those accomplishments. They are both ranked in the top 65 of this week’s national standings.
Bastel, Fouch and Snider are the cornerstones of MSU’s success, but the four best scores from each team count at the championship. That means at least one golfer from the second tier of Spartans - sophomores Sarah Martin and Ann Marie Kersten and junior Jessica Till - will have to step up this weekend.
“With the goals we have for the rest of the year, it’s important for everyone to play well,” said Bastel, who is the reigning co-Big Ten Golfer of the Week. “Obviously, people probably look at Allison, Stacy and I to play well every tournament and we expect that out of ourselves.
“But we do need our four through six men to contribute some key scores, too.”
The Spartans have steadily improved in the Big Ten during Slobodnik-Stoll’s five-year tenure - finishing ninth in 1998, then moving up to third and second before winning last year.
A strong showing this weekend will all but guarantee the Spartans a berth into the NCAA Central Regional at Forest Akers West Golf Course next month.
“We have the talent to repeat as Big Ten champions,” Slobodnik-Stoll said. “Going along with that is playing the best golf that we can and also preparing ourselves for the next stage after Big Tens. It should be an exciting weekend.”
