May 9, 2008

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's golf team slipped down the leaderboard on Friday at the 2008 NCAA West Regional Championship, being played at the Lincoln Hills Golf Club in Lincoln, Calif., but they are still only four strokes out of the eighth and final NCAA Championship qualifying position. The Spartans, ranked No. 17 by Golfweek/Sagarin and the seventh seed in the regional, carded a second round 16-over par 304 to be in 13th place at 23-over par 599.

Freshmen Aimee Neff shot a three-over par 75, leading the Spartans in the second round.

Seniors Sara Brown and Jordyn Wells both carded a four-over 76 on Friday. Brown is now tied for 36th with a two-round total of five-over 149, while Wells is tied for 74th at 10-over 154.

Sophomore Laura Kueny is the top Spartan after 36 holes, sitting in a tie for 27th at four-over 148, after today's five-over 77. Junior Holly Niederkohr matched Kueny's second round score of 77, and is currently tied for 44th at six-over 150.

Brown, Neff, Niederkohr and Wells each had two birdies in their rounds.

No. 1 Southern California still leads the field at five-under, after an even par 288 on Friday. UNLV, the 16th seed in the west region, is seven back, while Arizona State, the second seed, is 10 behind in third place.

With a four-under 68 today, UNLV's Therese Koelbaek leads the individuals at seven-under, three strokes clear of Arizona State's Azahara Munoz and four shots ahead of a group of three golfers.

The top-eight finishers from each of the three regions will advance to the 27th NCAA Championship, held on May 20-23 at the University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course in Albuquerque, N. M.

Live scoring will be available throughout the weekend by clicking here.