With the addition of Shannon Warner and Lindsey Solberg for the 2008-09 season, the MSU women’s golf team is preparing for what could be a championship combination in the near future.
Adding Warner and Solberg to the already dominant pair of sophomore Laura Kueny and freshman Aimee Neff could be the answer MSU has been looking to bring its team to that next level in NCAA Tournament play.
“I have known Shannon and her family for years now, and we have established a wonderful relationship over that time period,” MSU head coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll said. “Both (Shannon) and Lindsey are motivated, dedicated players that we know will help us maintain our status as one of the best teams in the country.”
Along with being a two-time Division I state champion, Warner, a Livonia native, was recently named Michigan’s 2007 Miss Golf last spring. Also, at age 13, Warner qualified for the USGA Women’s Amateur Public Links.
MSU has been the college of choice for Warner for years now. Even though she looked at other schools, MSU was where Warner knew she wanted to end up, she said.
“I didn’t really want to go far away, I’ve known Stacy for a really long time and it just felt right to me,” she said.
Warner said she is excited to join the Spartan squad, where she has already established close bonds with many of the players and said she hopes to easily transition into the competitive nature of college golf.
“I’m looking forward to the traveling, friendships and obviously to a lot of winning,” Warner said.
“I want to bring a competitive spirit to the team, be able to play in matches and just enjoy the college golf experience.”
The addition of Warner and Wisconsin native Solberg will most likely complete the powerhouse of Neff and Kueny for the top four spots.
Kueny and Neff have been making waves already this season, consistently placing among the top in tournaments.
“I am absolutely looking forward to (seeing those four play together),” Slobodnik-Stoll said. “Every year we strive to win the Big Ten, qualify for Nationals and then make some noise there.
“We are ready to take the next step with our program and finish in the Top 10 as well as have players competing for individual National Championships.”
Among many career highlights is carding the lowest score in a Michigan high school two-day tournament, a 136 (69-67), which Warner achieved at the 2006 state championships.
Her high school accomplishments aside, Warner finished second at the 2007 AJGA Randy Wise/Buick Junior Open, and won the 2007 Golf Association of Michigan Girls Junior Amateur Stroke Play with a score of 144 (70-74) during last summer.
The women’s golf team hits the road Feb. 11 at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge in California.
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