Then-junior Sara Brown putts during practice at Forest Akers West Golf Course.
Still glowing from last season’s Big Ten Championship win, the MSU women’s golf team is gearing up for what they hope to be an even more successful season — starting with the Mary Fossum Invitational at Forest Akers West Golf Course.
Besides the fact that the team has come out on top three out of the last four years at the Mary Fossum Invitational, this tournament is special because it honors a remarkable woman who served as MSU women’s golf coach for 25 seasons before retiring in 1997.
Mary Fossum led the Spartans to five straight Big Ten titles, 1974-78, during her time as head coach — and was inducted into the Golf Coaches Hall of Fame in 1988.
“There are so many things Mary has taught me as a player as well as a coach,” said MSU head coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, who played under and coached with Fossum before taking over the program.
“The whole Fossum family has been a part of my family since I got to Michigan State in 1989. Mary is still one of the only people I can call and tell her the situation with the team and players, and still get advice from because she understands golf and the program so well.”
As she does every year, Fossum will be cheering on the Spartans and presenting the awards.
As for expectations for the Mary Fossum Invitational, they are the same as what the team expects from every other tournament — to win.
“That’s what this program is all about,” Slobodnik-Stoll said.
“The tournament has some really good Big Ten teams, and we have to get the freshmen accustomed to college competition.
“Our expectations are always to win — especially with this field and this tournament.”
After losing three key players — Heather Rose, Mandi McConnell and Rachel Meikle — the six incoming freshmen will have big shoes to fill for the first tournament of the season. Slobodnik-Stoll is not worried, however.
“Part of my expectations (as a coach) is to bring players in that can do that,” she said.
“We don’t want to just win the Big Ten Championship here and there, we want to challenge for it every year along with being one of the top 10 teams in the country.”
Returning are two players who Slobodnik-Stoll expects to continuously compete for that number one spot — senior Sara Brown, who owns the second-lowest career scoring average in MSU history with a 75.80, is the fifth Spartan named to the World University Games, and who Slobodnik-Stoll believes is poised to be an All-American. Sophomore Laura Kueny rounds out the duo that are expected to turn in consistent scorecards this season.
The team will tee off Saturday and Sunday mornings along with nine other teams at Forest Akers West Golf Course.
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