Sports: Olds Classic Debuts with Spartan Victory

OLDS CLASSIC DEBUTS WITH SPARTAN VICTORY

A national TV audience saw a former Spartan golfer win the 1992 Oldsmobile Classic, East Lansing's first LPGA event. Hollywood could not have produced a better ending for the inaugural Oldsmobile Classic golf tournament in May.

The first Ladies Professional Golf Association event ever in East Lansing was won by six-year pro Barb Mucha, '84. Mucha got a huge lift from her 'home' crowd-- 22,700 of whom packed East Lansing's Walnut Hills Country Club on the final day. A national ESPN television audience saw a nail-biting finish as Mucha, pursued by current superstar Dottie Mochrie, scrambled to save par seven times before finally winning by one stroke.

On the final hole, ESPN played the Spartan Fight Song as Mucha walked up to the 18th green. Was it, speculated on media scribe, because her drive had gone 'straight down the middle'? In any case, she needed another 'up and down' to save par. Mucha chipped to five feet and then drained the tricky short putt for her second career victory and a $75,000 paycheck. 'I dodged so many bullets out there,' sighed Mucha, who finished at 276, 12-under-par. 'I was just hanging in there making pars. When it's your time to win, it's your time to win.'

The victory vaulted Mucha among the Top 25 women golfers for the year. Not only did she fend off the fast-charging Mochrie, but the native of Parma Heights, Ohio, beat Hall of Famers Nancy Lopez, Pat Bradley and JoAnne Carner, veterans like Pat Sheehan and Beth Daniel, as well as rising stars like Meg Mallon and Daniel Ammaccapane.

'It's truly a miracle,' Mucha told the crowd around the 18th green. 'I just knew in a way I was going to win this. Go Green forever!'

Two other former Spartans, 10-year LPGA veteran Sue Ertl and Grand Ledge native Kelly Holland, playing only her sixth LPGA event, had also made the final cut. MSU senior co-captain Jennifer Mieras was one of two amateurs to qualify for the tournament but missed the cut. They all enjoyed vocal support from area fans-- including, of course, MSU women's golf coach Mary Fossum, who helped the players develop their games, and her husband Bruce, former MSU men's golf coach.

The event also proved to be a win for Oldsmobile, Walnut Hills and the local community. Thousands of volunteers pitched in to make the event a success. The MSU Alumni Association, along with several other university units, co-sponsored a hospitality tent by the 17th fairway.

Terry Fossum, assistant director of the Ralph Young Fund, was tent co-host and led the cheers for the Spartan golfers as they walked by. The event concluded on a nice note. As Chuck Strong, assistant general sales manager for Oldsmobile and MSU alumnus, presented the winner's check, he pointed out to Mucha, 'Notice your name is written in green.' One hour later, after the crowd had dwindled and her press duties had been performed, Mucha stayed for a post-tournament picnic with some 1,200 volunteers and joined in singing the MSU Fight Song. No one could have scripted a more fitting ending.