Women's Golf Takes 17th Place At Michigan State Mary Fossum Invitational

The nationally-ranked Ferris State University women's golf team posted a three-round 985-stroke total to finish 17th place in the 2009 Michigan State Mary Fossum Invitational this Sunday (Sept. 13) at MSU's Forest Akers West Golf Course in East Lansing, Mich.

Ferris State concluded the two-day tournament with a 985 score (+121) to finish last among the 17 teams participating on the par 72, 6,236-yard course during the two-day (Sept. 12-13) event.  The Bulldogs turned in scores of 328, 317, and 340 per round.  Host Michigan State won its own tournament championship for the sixth time in the last seven years as the Spartans turned in a first-place 875-stroke total (+11), three less strokes than second-place Purdue (878, +14).

For the Bulldogs, freshman Ashley Swanson (Flushing/Flint Powers Catholic Central) delivered a team-best 241 score (80-78-83=241, +25) to tie for 63rd place honors.  Sophomore Blaize Baumgartner (Perry) turned in a 244 (79-81-84=244, +28), which was good for a 71st-place tie.

Sophomores Bryce Hetchler (Clinton Township/Fraser) and Brooke Rodes (Traverse City/West) totaled 247 (83-78-86=247, +31) and 253 (86-80-87=253, +37) scores respectively.  Hetcher ended up in a two-way deadlock for 79th place while Rodes was amongst two others to earn a share of 83rd-place honors for head coach Mike Mignano's squad.

Sophomore Breezy Bernth (Greenville) rounded out FSU's starting lineup with a 279-stroke total (93-99-87=279, +63) to place 91st. 

The Bulldogs were ranked ninth place in the 2009-10 Golf World/Nike Golf Division II Preseason Coaches' Poll (Sept. 3). 

Ferris State returns to play on the links this weekend (Sept. 21-22) as the Bulldogs compete in the Northern Arizona Mountain Shootout at the Continental Golf Course in Flagstaff, Ariz.  Northern Arizona is coached by former Bulldog head coach Brad Bedortha.