“It’s extremely exciting,” senior Aimee Neff said. “Down the stretch, there were definitely some nerves but definitely a lot of excitement.”

After playing solid back-to-back rounds in the second and third rounds, the Spartans took a two-stroke lead against Purdue into the final round. The team watched the Boilermakers take a five-stroke lead during the back-nine to set up an exciting finish.

MSU answered with a great stretch run by Solberg, who birdied on holes 15, 16 and 17. The Spartans also received help from Ferrell and Meier with even-par 72s that led to a five-stroke win against the Boilermakers and the Spartans’ first championship since 2007.

After a slow start shooting an 18-over 306, MSU recorded its best round of the tournament with a one-over 289 and finished in the top two in each of the final three rounds. The Spartans’ late execution in Glencoe, Ill., gave head coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll her third conference championship with the Spartans — the other ones coming in 2001 and 2007 — and broke a three-year drought against the Boilermakers.

“We’ve been doing a lot of great things this spring,” Slobodnik-Stoll said. “It’s an emotional roller coaster. … Lindsey making three birdies was just an amazing feeling.”

Sophomore Caroline Powers powered the Spartans through the first three rounds and entered the final round tied for first place among individual golfers thanks to an even-par run through the first three. She shot a five-over 77 for the final round to finish in fourth place, but she and Solberg, who finished fifth, helped put the Spartans in excellent position.

Solberg’s two-under 70 in the final round was one of the best scores that round and coupled with a strong opening three rounds, placed her in fifth for the tournament, but the weekend was summarized by a total team effort. Neff tied for 19th with a 15-over 303, while Ferrell shot a two-over 74 and even-par 72 in the final two rounds to finish in a tie for 29th with a 309.

Meier’s solid stretch put her in a tie for 32nd overall with a 310 along with senior Natalie Brehm.
The Spartans placed first at the Lady Buckeye Invitational last weekend to provide confidence for this weekend’s run, but the team’s execution down the stretch paved the way for Sunday’s victory.

For now, the Spartans can enjoy their conference championship, as they prepare for NCAA regionals on May 5-7 and can hope to build off the play of the freshmen late in the tournament.
“I’m so proud of them, especially for next year,” Powers said. “Just knowing that we could win. … It was so great.”