Northwestern started the season with an 11th place finish at the Central District Classic this week.

No. 17 NU finished with a 65-over 929 in three rounds played Monday and Tuesday at River Wilderness Country Club in Parrish, Fla., 45 shots behind first-place Michigan State.

Tied for 15th individually with a 225, sophomore Lauren Grzebien had the best NU finish, but her score did not count toward the team total.

The rules allowed six players from each team to play, and coaches had to select the five players whose scores would count before the competition. Grzebien was not choosen.

Freshman Ina Kim tied for 38th with a 16-over 232, the best NU score that counted. Senior Emily Gilley, sophomore Hana Kim and junior Elizabeth Burden tied for 43rd place with scores of 234. Freshman Mary Ellen Grzebien carded a 237 and tied for 59th.

The Wildcats had rounds of 312, 310 and 307.

Michigan State dominated the tournament with a 20-over 884 and had the top four individual finishers, including medalist Stacy Snider, who shot even-par 216.

The Spartans won by 11 strokes over Ohio State and Purdue, which tied for second place with scores of 895.

Next up for the Wildcats is the “Mo”morial Tournament in Bryan, Texas, on March 4 and 5.