Feb. 22, 1998

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State womenis golf team opened its spring season finishing sixth in the nine-team Midwest Classic in Surprise, Arizona.

The Spartans fired a two-round total of 315-303=618, 18 strokes off the first-place pace set by Northwestern. MSU enjoyed a 12-shot improvement as a team from Friday to Saturday at the Desert Springs Golf Club.

Junior Meggan Schumaker led Michigan State with a 76-75=151, good for 10th place and just four shots away from medalist Laura Hammond of Penn State. Junior Kellie Dennis (79-75=154, tie for 14th) and freshman Kasey Gant (81-75=156, tie for 26th) provided support behind Schumaker.

The Spartans return to action in two weeks at the Peggy Kirk Bell Invitational in Orlando, Florida, March 9-10.