EAST LANSING – Four birdies in the final nine holes weren’t enough. Michigan State senior Brooke Biermann’s college career ended on Sunday in California as the Spartans didn’t make the cut after 54 holes. There was expected disappointment but she finished a standout four-year career with a fight. “You’ve got to lean on the positives,” Biermann said on Wednesday. “We did so many great things.” Biermann, who graduated earlier this month, could also quickly shift her focus to another major milestone. She’s preparing to play in the U.S. Women’s Open next week at Erin Hills in Wisconsin. “Golfers can play pro their whole lives and never make it to a major championship so I’m extremely honored,” Biermann said. “It makes it feel worth it because there’s lots of days where you work really hard and you might not see too much change in your game or improvement.” Biermann is done playing for the Spartans but will continue to represent the program. She will also have coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll on the bag as her caddy next week. A lot of thought and conversation went into finding the right caddy for Biermann before she texted Slobodnik-Stoll asking to talk. “She went through that story, then she added ‘so, will you caddy for me, coach?’” Slobodnik-Stoll recalled. “Obviously I was a little surprised, that’s not what I was expecting, however I’m so, so happy to be doing something like that for her.” Biermann, a 22-year-old Missouri native, had a decorated career with the Spartans, including becoming the program’s first individual regional winner, which came as a sophomore. They also reached the NCAA Championships as a team in three of her four seasons. “She’s done so much,” Slobodnik-Stoll said, “and certainly left her footprint in this program.” The run came to an end when Michigan State finished 18th at 24-over-par during the NCAA Championships at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif., on Sunday. The top 15 teams advanced to match play and none of Spartans qualified individually to move on. Senior Katie Lu led the team at 5-over to tie for 45th while Biermann was at 8-over. “I was like, well, no rest for the weary,” Biermann said. “I’ve got to start preparing for the U.S. Open.” Biermann earned a spot in the major by winning a one-day, 36-hole qualifier with a score of 143 at St. Clair Country Club in Belleville, Ill. She’s the 15th in program history to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open. “Really, I just tried to stay in my lane and just do what I had been doing all season,” she said, “because I feel like I gained a lot of confidence from a great season at Michigan State.” Biermann has already been inside the ropes with the best of the best by playing in the 2023 Meijer LPGA Classic on a sponsor’s exemption. She shot 1-over and missed the 36-hole cut by three shots in her LPGA debut. “Being able to play in that gave me incredible insight into what it’s like being on the road,” Biermann said, “being a pro golfer, what it takes to be the best in the world.” That’s the next step Biermann is hoping to make. She plans on remaining an amateur through the summer while playing in top events before going through the LPGA’s Q-Series in September, hoping to earn status on tour. There’s a potential bright future but what’s immediately ahead is Biermann and Slobodnik-Stoll hitting the road on Sunday to drive to Wisconsin. “I’m going to get there and I’m going to treat it as a normal tournament,” Biermann said. “Yes, I’m getting there earlier than an average tournament but get acclimated to the weather, get acclimated to the course and the speed of the greens and everything and also just get settled in. Try to take everything in, have as much fun as I can.” Neither Biermann nor Slobodnik-Stoll have experience at Erin Hills but there’s a local connection they’re relying on for course knowledge. There are four days of practice rounds before the 72-hole tournament tees off Thursday with a cut coming after two rounds. In addition to being an accomplished coach and player, Slobodnik-Stoll has experience serving as a caddy. Playing that role at the U.S. Women’s Open will be new and she’s well into additional preparation. After speaking with the media on Wednesday afternoon, she was heading to run stairs at Munn Ice Arena with her daughter. “This is the best golf tournament in the world for the best players in the world and we have a young Spartan that wants to play on that tour,” Slobodnik-Stoll said. “So I have a very serious job that I need to do and I’ll be taking it very seriously.” Biermann grinded to get to this point. From a top junior golfer to standout at Michigan State to the cusp of a professional career. Teeing it up in the U.S. Women’s Open next week is another step in making that a reality. “I’m more focused on learning as much as I can,” Biermann said, “and trying to gain insight of what it takes to win a major championship. … A goal of mine is to have fun, enjoy it, of course make the cut. Who knows?”