The Michigan State women’s golf team ended the first day of this year’s Big Ten Championship the same way it finished last year’s event: at the top of the leaderboard.
The Spartans combined to shoot a 2-under-par 282 Friday during the first round of this year’s tournament at Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh. Michigan State holds a three-shot lead on its nearest competitors: in-state rival Michigan along with Purdue, which both ended at 1-over-par 285.
Leila Raines led the way for the No. 34 Spartans in the opening round. She carded a 3-under-par 68, giving her a share of the first-round lead alongside Nebraska’s Michaela Vavrova.
A sophomore, Raines had four birdies on her front nine.
Three other MSU golfers also finished the day among the top 20 on the individual leaderboard: sophomore Valentina Rossi and freshman Katie Lu are at even-par after shooting 71s, while senior Valery Plata is tied for 16th after a 1-over-par 72. Other Spartans competing include senior Haylin Harris and freshman Brooke Biermann, who both shot 73 (2-over par).
The Spartans are looking to win back-to-back Big Ten titles for the third time under coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll. MSU also won consecutive conference crowns in 2011-12 and 2017-18. Michigan State’s nine Big Ten Championship victories are second-most in league history, trailing only Ohio State, which has 15.
Eight of the Spartans’ nine titles have come under Slobodnik-Stoll. Her championship tally also ranks second in the conference record books; Ohio State’s Therese Hession, who retired in January, ended her career with 11.
Michigan State will tee off in a group with Michigan and Purdue in Saturday’s second round.
Contact Ryan Black at rblack@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @RyanABlack.
