Women's Golf

July 9, 2012

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Former All-American and 2002 Big Ten Golfer of the Year Emily Bastel has been elected for induction into the Michigan State University Athletics Hall of Fame. The Class of 2012 also includes Carl Banks (football), Clinton Jones (football), Shawn Respert (basketball), Diane Spoelstra (women's basketball/softball/volleyball) and George Szypula (men's gymnastics coach). The six-member class will be inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday, Sept. 20, as part of the "Celebrate 2012" weekend.

The "Celebrate 2012" weekend includes the third-annual Varsity Letter Jacket Presentation and Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 20; announcement of the Varsity S Club award winners on Friday, Sept. 21; and culminates Saturday, Sept. 22 with a special recognition of the Hall of Famers during the Michigan State-Eastern Michigan football game in Spartan Stadium (kickoff TBA).

"We're excited about inducting another quality class into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame," Michigan State Athletics Director Mark Hollis said. "We really look forward to the unique opportunity to celebrate the achievement of student-athletes being awarded their first varsity letter jacket in conjunction with honoring our best of the best with the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

"Emily Bastel is arguably the greatest women's golfer in MSU history," added Hollis. "Emily was remarkably consistent throughout her collegiate career, and it speaks volumes that she was selected MSU's Female Athlete of the Year twice."

Emily Bastel
Women's Golf (1998-2002)
Upper Sandusky, Ohio

During her four years in East Lansing, Emily Bastel led the Spartans to new heights and helped spark a remarkable run that has placed Michigan State among the top women's golf programs in the nation.

One of only three Spartans to earn All-Big Ten honors four times, Bastel was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1999, claimed Big Ten medalist honors in 2000, and was the first Spartan to be named Big Ten Golfer of the Year in 2002.

Bastel became the first women's golfer at MSU to win the George Alderton Female Athlete of the Year Award in 2000 after winning the Big Ten Championships, and she won the award for a second time in 2002. She is still only one of five Spartans to win the Alderton Award twice.

As a junior in 2000-01, Bastel set a then-school single-season record with a 75.23 stroke average and tied for 13th at the NCAA Championships. The Spartans tied for 12th overall at nationals, which remains the highest finish in school history.

Bastel saved her best for last as a senior in 2001-02, breaking her own school record with a 74.81 scoring average to earn Big Ten Golfer of the Year and second-team All-America honors. She won two tournaments (USF Waterlefe Invitational, Indiana Invitational) and set a then-school record with a 54-hole score of 214 at USF, and placed in the top five in seven events.

Bastel's outstanding individual performances helped lead Michigan State to four appearances in the NCAA Regionals, three trips to the NCAA Championships, and the 2001 Big Ten Championship.

The Upper Sandusky, Ohio, native left Michigan State with the best scoring average in school history, and is still fourth all-time at MSU with a 75.75 average. She also was selected to the 2002 U.S. Curtis Cup, becoming just the second Spartan golfer to earn the prestigious honor.

"I was so excited to take the phone call (regarding her selection into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame)," Bastel said. "The news definitely put a smile on my face, and I was overcome with a flood of memories from my experiences as a student-athlete. I'm so honored to be a member of this 2012 Class.

"I'm still in the world of collegiate golf, so it's very gratifying to hear people refer to Michigan State as having `a great program.' During my collegiate career, Michigan State won a Big Ten Championship and played in three straight NCAA Championships. So I played a small part in helping put Michigan State women's golf back on the national map, and that's something my teammates and I take pride in.

"During my career, I kept finding ways to improve my game. I had a great support system. Coach Slobodnik believed in me every step of the way and my parents were tremendously supportive. They encouraged me and gave me the mind-set that I could accomplish all of my dreams. I knew they were in my corner and that made all of the difference in the world."

Bastel went on to a successful professional career, playing three seasons on the LPGA Tour (2005-06, 2008). She also was the leading money winner on the Future's Tour in 2007.

Bastel was recently named the head women's golf coach at Florida.

"During Emily's time at Michigan State, from start to finish, she proved to be the best golfer in the history of our program," MSU women's head golf coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll said. "Her list of accomplishments is impressive: All-American, two-time MSU Athlete of the Year, 2002 Curtis Cup member, represented the USA in the World University Games in Malaysia, Big Ten Player of the Year, Big Ten individual and team Champion. From the day Emily stepped on campus, her maturity and vast golf knowledge was clear, and she wasted no time proving that she was a dominant player in our conference and in the nation.

"Emily was a model student-athlete, excelling in everything and anything she put her mind to. Her success in the game of golf has continued through her life, first on the Futures Tour, then on the LPGA Tour and now as the head coach of the University of Florida."

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