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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Ryan Black, Lansing State Journal

Michigan State women’s team snags early lead at Big Ten Championship

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.

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