May 2, 1998

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Freshman Kasey Gant (Fort Wayne, Ind.) is three shots off the lead and tied for ninth place individually after 54 holes of the Big Ten Women's Golf Championship in State College, Pa. Gant's 72-77-78=227 after two days leads the Spartans, who stand in eighth place as a team.

Michigan State has shot a 312-309-316=937 as a team through two rounds, tied with Wisconsin for eighth place in the team standings. Indiana (307-292-297=896) leads the tournament.

Gant stands tied with Ohio State's Bethany Overstake in ninth, just three shots behind four golfers tied at 224.

Two Spartans besides Gant had rounds under 80 Saturday, led by junior Kellie Dennis (Jackson, Mich.), whose 81-78-78=237 puts her 39th individually. Sophomore Tricia Gregory (Spring Lake, Mich.) improved her standing with a 79 Saturday, giving her an 83-83-79=245 for the tournament.

The final round of the tournament at Penn State's Blue Course tees off Sunday at 8 a.m.

TEAM STANDINGS                          MSU INDIVIDUALS
1. Indiana         307-292-297=896      T9. Kasey Gant         72-77-78=227
2. Ohio State      298-307-303=908      39. Kellie Dennis      81-78-78=237
3. Purdue          312-298304=914       T40. Ellen Bishop      81-76-81=238
4. Penn State      308-303-305=916      T48. Meggan Schumaker  78-78-86=242
5. Northwestern    309-305-305=919      T51. Tricia Gregory    83-83-79=245
6. Iowa            305-312-304=921      60. April Holly        83-86-82=251
7. Minnesota       308-315-309=932
8. Wisconsin       309-311-317=937
    Michigan State 312-309-316=937
10. Illinois       319-318-315=952
11. Michigan       316-328-317=961