Grimwood Starts Season Strong For Bulldogs

Saturday, September 15

East Lansing, Mich. (Forest Akers West GC)

All Day

Mississippi State

Mary Fossom Invitational

Ela Grimwood sits in a tie for fifth following the opening two rounds at the season-opening Mary Fossom Invitational.

Grimwood Starts Season Strong For Bulldogs

September 15, 2018 | Women's Golf

Results

By BreAnna Lynch, Student Assistant/Communications

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Ela Grimwood started the fall season on fire, shooting a 1-under 143 to sit in a tie for sixth following Saturday's first two rounds of the Mary Fossom Invitational in East Lansing, Michigan.

After bogeying her opening two holes, the New Zealand native caught fire and made six birdies, three in each round, on the challenging par-72, 6,315-yard Forest Akers West Golf Club.

"Ela had a very consistent day, hitting a lot of fairways and greens in regulation," Bulldog head coach Ginger Brown-Lemm said. "She was in a great place mentally, and it showed in her performance. We look forward to another great round from her tomorrow."

Junior Clara Moyano followed in a tie for 38th with a 5-over 150. Moyano recorded eight birdies over the 36 holes, and after carding a 77 in Saturday's opening round, she used four birdies in her first five holes of the opening round to cap the day with a second-round 73.

A tough opening stretch led State to a 303 opening round. However, the Dawgs bounced back and trimmed six shots off that tally with a 297 in the second round, something Brown-Lemm and first-year assistant Kortnie Maxoutopoulis see as a building block heading into Sunday's final round.

"We struggled in the opening nine holes and worked very hard to recover from that," Brown-Lemm said of her squad. "With the course at 6,350 yards, you have to be patient and stick to the game plan we set in the practice round. Double bogeys are what killed us out there, and we cannot continue to make nine doubles in a round as a team and be competitive. They are talented, and we will build on all the lessons of today."

Freshman Lauren Miller was one of those players who showed resiliency in the afternoon, rallying from a 77 in her first collegiate round with a 75 in the second round to sit in a tie for 46th at 8-over 152.

Senior veteran Katie Holt carded a 78 over her first 18 holes on Friday, but she answered with a 77 in the second round that put her in a tie for 60th at 11-over 155.

Another rookie, Hannah Levi, wrapped her opening day of collegiate action with a 161 that placed her in a tie for 79th.

Mississippi State, which ended the day in 11th with a 600 total, tees off Sunday's final round with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. CT. The Dawgs will open play on holes 10-13.

Mary Fossom Invitational – Rds. 1 and 2
1.Virginia (281+290=571, -5)
T2. Georgia (292+282=574, -2)
T2. Florida (289+285=574, -2)
4. Michigan State (291+284=575, -1)
5. Old Dominion (294+ 283=577, +1)
6.Miami (289+296=585, +9)
7. Indiana (289+301=590, +14)
8. Texas Tech (298+293=591, +15)
9. Toledo (301+295=596, +20)
10. Mercer (296+303=599, +23)
11. Mississippi State (303+297=600, +24)
12.Sacramento State (293+311=604, +28)
13. Rutgers (306+299=605, +29)
14. Kansas State (310+309=619, +43
15. Northern Illinois (308+312=620, +44)
16. Eastern Michigan (320+314=634, +58)

MSU Players
T6. Ela Grimwood (71+72=143, -1)
T38. Clara Moyano (77+73=150, +6)
T46. Lauren Miller (77+75=152, +8)
T60. Katie Holt (78+77=155, +11)
T79. Hannah Levi (78+83=161, +17)