Comeback no fluke as MSU golfers play in another NCAA championship

In the eyes of Michigan State women’s golf coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, her team didn’t get to the NCAA championship this week by happenstance. It willed this into existence. She’s got a point.

Michigan State faced elimination entering the final day of the North Carolina NCAA Regional last week, before the Spartans shot the day’s best score of 2-over par to force a three-team playoff. With the final two spots in the NCAA championship on the line, Michigan State finished off the comeback to make its fourth straight team appearance at the NCAA Championship and its sixth straight year sending at least one representative. “I’ve always believed that everything happens for a reason, and if you believe that something can happen, there’s a much better chance that something will,” Slobodnik-Stoll told The Detroit News, amid the Spartans’ practice round at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California.

“So, I believe we are meant to be here. ” Organizationally, Michigan State expects to compete in the NCAA championship, which pits the top 30 golf programs in the country against one another. Three rounds of stroke play determine a top 15, who play alongside the top nine individuals not on a qualifying team to determine the NCAA individual champion.

Then the top eight teams move on to two days of match play to determine a team champion. This is Michigan State’s 18th appearance at the NCAA championship all-time, and the 16th since Slobodnik-Stoll became head coach in 1997. “Every year that we’re here, we understand — and I tell the team — you’ve earned this opportunity, but this is the pinnacle of your career,” Slobodnik-Stoll said.