Michigan State put three golfers inside the top 20 and settled into second place after the first day of the Windon Memorial at the Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest, Ill.
The Spartans opened with a 1-over par 281, then backed it up with a 1-under par 279 to finish the first 36 holes at even-par 560. That leaves MSU four shots behind Kansas, which tops the 16-team field at 4-under par 556 after rounds of 276 and 280.
One senior led the way for the Spartans with a 3-under par 137, good for a tie for fifth place. He started with a 1-under par 69 and came back with a 2-under par 68, and his nine birdies through 36 holes rank second in the field.
Seniors Lorenzo Pinili and Lucas Acevedo are both tied for 16th at even-par 140. Pinili posted a 2-over par 72 in the opening round before answering with a 2-under par 68. Acevedo opened with a 1-under par 69 and followed with a 1-over par 71, and he eagled the par-5, 418-yard fourth hole in both rounds.
Julian Menser is tied for 37th at 3-over par 143 after rounds of 71 and 72. Luke Mueller sits tied for 67th at 8-over par 148 with a 72-76 scorecard.
Competing as an individual, sophomore Connor Fox is tied for 75th at 9-over par 149 following rounds of 73 and 76.
Washington and Notre Dame are tied for third at 1-over par 561, while Charlotte and Cal Poly share fifth at 2-over par 562.
The final round begins Tuesday morning.
In Other News...
Michigan State Now Faces A Bigger Problem Than The Nebraska Loss
The Nebraska loss itself was ugly enough for Michigan State, but the bigger concern coming out of Lincoln was the damage done to the roster. The Spartans were already thin in key spots, and the injury situation started before kickoff when starting cornerback Tre Bell was hurt in warmups and never made it into the game.
It only got worse from there. Running back Cam Edwards and offensive lineman Connor Moore went down on the same play, and defensive leader Jordan Hall also left with a leg injury after being taken off the field on a cart, leaving Michigan State with plenty to sort through beyond the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Faces A Bigger Offensive Problem Than Fans Feared
Michigan States offense has looked increasingly out of sync over the last few games, and the numbers underline just how much work remains. Through four games, the Spartans have managed only 88 points and nine touchdowns, both among the lowest marks in the Big Ten, while quarterback Alessio Milivojevic has been dealing with plenty of pressure, sacks and interceptions as the unit struggles to find any sort of rhythm.
The bigger concern is that the problems have not been limited to execution. Injuries have already thinned out the group and left the staff trying to patch together answers on the fly, with the offensive line and backfield both taking hits that make every snap feel a little more fragile. Michigan State is still searching for stability, but the margin for error keeps shrinking as the offense tries to get healthy enough to even resemble what it was supposed to be. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Suddenly Faces A Depth Chart Test Against Wisconsin
Michigan State left its trip to Nebraska with more than one injury concern, and the timing could not be worse with Wisconsin next on the schedule. Running back Cam Edwards and linebacker Jordan Hall were among the players hurt in the game, leaving the Spartans to sort through a depth chart that may look different by the time they line up again.
The backfield is especially worth watching because backup Jaziun Patterson handled relief work well after Edwards exited, and the staff is already leaning on him as it prepares for the next matchup. The bigger question now is how Michigan State will piece together its roster across the board if the injury list forces more changes, with the full extent of those setbacks still unclear. [Read more 🡒]