May 10, 2008

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's golf team's season ended on Saturday night, as they fell one stroke short of a qualifying position for the 2008 NCAA Championship. The Spartans shot a final round six-over par 294 at the 2008 NCAA West Regional Championship, being played at the Lincoln Hills Golf Club in Lincoln, Calif., but ended the tournament at 29-over par 893 (295-304-294) and in 11th place. Their final round team score was the fourth-lowest tally of the day.

Sophomore Laura Kueny was the top Spartan at the regional, finishing in a tie for 17th at four-over 220 (71-77-72). Kueny was even-par today, including three birdies over a five hole stretch in the middle of her round. For the regional, she had seven birdies.

In her fourth regional, senior Sara Brown shot a three-day total of six-over 222 (73-76-73) to tie for 30th. In today's round, Brown had two birdies and an eagle in her front nine to shoot an one-under 35, and posted eight pars and a double-bogey on the back side. She had six birdies over her 36 holes and played the par-five eighth hole at three-under.

Tying Kueny for the low MSU round of the day, senior Jordyn Wells ended her collegiate career with an even-par 72 to move up to a tie for 49th at 10-over 226 (78-76-72). Wells had five birdies in her round and totaled a team-high nine over the three days.

Junior Holly Niederkohr, playing in her third regional, ended the tournament in a tie for 56th at 12-over 228 (73-77-78), while freshman Aimee Neff tied for 80th at 16-over 232 (80-75-77).

The top-eight finishers from each of the three regions advanced to the 27th NCAA Championship, held on May 20-23 at the University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course in Albuquerque, N. M. Coming from the west was regional champion Southern California, Arizona State, UNLV, Arizona, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Tulsa and UC Davis, who won a three-team tiebreaker over Stanford and Ohio State for the final spot.