The FGCU women's golf team had a very successful season last year. Of course in golf, there is no standings or win and loss record. It's simply put by team placement.
The women's golf team won matches at the Women's Mid-American Match Play Challenge in Lakewood Ranch, Florida where they beat Fort Wayne 5-0 and Eastern Michigan 4-0-1 in the first round and quarterfinals before claiming a third place finish after falling to Lamar in the semifinals. Their highest finish last season was in the MSU Citrus Classic where they finished in 2nd place out of 14 teams.
They still managed to have successful finishes as high as second and third place and made it to the conference championship before becoming runner-up and finishing second behind UNF. It was still a good year for them.
The team is led by head coach Sarah Trew. Trew enters her seventh season as head coach with plenty of experience behind the tee.
Prior to her coaching career, Trew played collegiate golf for the University of Georgia where she was a Dean’s List honoree and named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. After her stint with the Bulldogs, the Marietta, Georgia native transferred over to the University of Arkansas where she was a three-year letterwinner and SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient all while helping the Razorbacks to its first-ever NCAA Championship appearance in 2005.
A year later, Trew helped the Razorbacks return to the NCAA Championship, finishing 10th overall after the four-round tournament in Columbus, Ohio. While being a Razorback, Trew currently holds the 14th-lowest career stroke average in Arkansas' women's golf history.
After graduating, Trew turned professional and competed in numerous select events. She was a qualifier for the 2006 and 2007 finals of the Re-Max World Long Drive Challenge, finishing 11th in 2006 and earning a district championship with a 325-yard drive.
After her stint as a pro golfer, Trew earned a job opportunity to being an assistant coach for the University of Kansas and assisted in coaching four individual tournament champions at KU, highlighted by 2007 Big 12 Conference champ Amanda Costner, who was the first individual Big 12 champion in school history.
After five years of being an assistant coach, Trew landed the head coaching position for FGCU.
In her first season, Trew led FGCU to eight Top 10 finishes including four inside the Top 5. FGCU recorded their best finish under her direction at the 36-hole NIU Snowbird Classic (Mar. 15-16), where they took third place in the field of 11, posted a trio of fourth place finishes throughout the year and wrapped up the year with a seventh place finish at the 2012 A-SUN Conference Championship.
In her second season, Trew's Eagles finished with their best-ever showing at the Atlantic Sun Championship, coming in third. The team produced its low-team round with a score of 291 at the conference championship, while also producing its best-ever scores in 36-holes (589) and in 54-holes (887).
Trew's Eagles in her third season saw records broken on the course and in the classroom. FGCU set a new single-season scoring record with a team average of 307.88, while also setting a new benchmark academically and earned a team grade point average of 3.8 in the fall semester and set the FGCU team record with a 3.92 during the spring of 2014. Trew led FGCU to earn three top-five finishes and four more top-11 rankings while competing in a challenging schedule when the season began the season with a first-place finish at the Eagle Invitational and culminated their success this season with a fourth-place finish at the 2014 A-SUN Conference Championship.
In her fourth season, the team saw eight top-10 finishes and placed among the top-five in five tournaments, including the conference championship. The team earned a third place finish at the conference championship and ranked second nationally among Division I teams with a cumulative GPA of 3.781. In addition to the team’s recognition, seven players from the team produced GPAs at 3.50 or above.
In Trew's fifth season, she was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Coach of the Year in 2016 after guiding the program to a record year. The Eagles produced a program-best stroke average of 305.29 through the season and took a second-place finish at the 2016 A-SUN Conference Championship. Trew led alumni golfer Mei Khuan Yong to a First Team All-Conference honor and the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, helped Madeline Marck-Sherk to All-Freshman Team honors and Sara Detlefsen to All-Academic Team accolades.
In her sixth season, rew led the Eagles to six top-five finishes, including a second place showing at the A-SUN Championship, which ties a program best. For the third time since she took over the team, Trew's squad set a new record for team stroke average carding 302.30 on the season which produced a program-high 310 birdies.
With her strong coaching ability, there is no doubt in my mind that coach Trew will guide the team along the path to victory.
Helping Trew with a experience as a golfer is Katie Detlefsen.
A native of Eagan, Minnesota, Detlefsen joined the team with more passion than Paula Creamer.
Prior to her coaching career, Detlefsen played collegiately for the University of Central Florida. There, she was an All-Conference USA selection, named to the Conference USA All-Academic Team on three occasions and earned National Golf Coaches’ Association All-American Scholar accolades for four-consecutive years. She also earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American status and received the prestigious Dinah Shore Award as a junior.
After gradauting, Detlefsen earned her TPI certification and became a Trackman Level 2 Teaching Professional, continued her career as a Class A member of the LPGA and is currently competing on the Symetra Tour and was a member of the Golf Channel’s Big Break: Myrtle Beach.
Detlefsen joined FGCU during the Summer of 2015 and with her strong background in golf competition and instruction, she will give it all she's got to make sure the team plays their hardest.
Last season, there was only one senior that departed from the team: Megan Blonien. The transfer from Atlus, Oklahoma graduated, so there are seven returners and one newcomer that are on the team.
Currently on the team, there are two seniors, three juniors, two sophomores and one freshman.
The two seniors on the team with plenty of experience are Ashley Kimbrough and Madison Easterbrook.
The first of two seniors is Ashley Kimbrough.
A native of Clearwater, Florida, Kimbrough has fought through some obstacles, but never gave up.
In her freshman year, Kimbrough played 16 rounds in six events for her rookie season. She recorded a stroke average of 83.19. She opened her collegiate career with scores of 80, 79, 81 at the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational, carded two rounds of 76 at the Johnie Imes invitational and appeared in a dual match against K-State and the Eagle’s home event in the spring. As a result of her hard work, Kimbrough was named a WGCA Scholar All-American.
In her sophomore year, Kimbrough appeared in five rounds and produced a stroke average of 82.80. She carded scores of 86 and 80 at the Florida Challenge and played three rounds at the FGCU Eagle Invitational with scores of 85, 80, 83.
She was unable to play her junior year due to injury and redshirted, but will have two years of eligibility remaining.
For Kimbrough, she will give it all she's got this season.
The other senior is Madison Easterbrook.
Hailing from Burlington, Ontario, Canada, Easterbrook is by far one of Canada's best golfers.
In her freshman year, Easterbrook appeared in each of the team’s 10 events, scoring for the team in each one. She scored under 80 in all but nine rounds on the season and carded scores under 8- in two of three rounds or more during seven events and scored +5 or better in 10 rounds, including four of the last six outings. In her rookie campaign, she opened her collegiate career with two rounds under 80 at the Marilynn Smith Invitational, carded a career best 73 at the Johnie Imes Invitational, led the team with a 74 in the first round of the Pat Bradley Invitational, finished in the top-20 at the John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate with scores of 77, 77 and 76, shot a 74 at the team’s home event and recorded seven-straight sub 80 scores to end the season including rounds of 79, 74 and 79 at the A-SUN Championship to finish among the top-20.
As a result of her hard work, Easterbrook was named a member on the A-SUN All-Freshman Team and a WGCA Scholar All-American.
By sophomore year, she played in nine events for FGCU where she produced a stroke average of 78.64 through 25 rounds. She carded a career-best score of 70 in the third round of the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational, took a top-20 finish at the John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate with scores of 75, 77, 77, produced scores of 72, 76, 80 at the A-SUN Championship for a total score of 228 and an 11th place finish and finished the year with four scores of 75 or better in the team’s last three events.
In her junior year, she finished her campaign where she played 22 rounds in eight events with a stroke average of 77.73. In the season, she carded seven rounds of 75 or under and collected three top-20 finishes. during the season, she took a top-20 finish at the Redbird Invitational with scores of 73, 81 and 74, carded a season-low total score of 225 with rounds of 76, 73 and 76 at the USA Intercollegiate and tied for 16th in the A-SUN Championship with rounds of 79, 73 and 82.
For Easterbrook, all the cards are on the table and will put all her effort to the max.
To back up the seniors, three juniors come strongly to the table: Kelsy Holbert, Madeline Marck-Sherk and Jean Tyrrell.
The first of three juniors is Kelsy Holbert.
Hailing from Lutz, Florida, Holbert comes with passion like Michelle Wie.
In her freshman year, Holbert produced a stroke average of 80.81 through 16 rounds, where she opened her collegiate career at the Marilynn Smith Invitational. She carded two scores under 80 at the Pat Bradley Invitational, produced scores of 78 and 84 at the Fresno State Classic and carded a season-best score of 72 at the MSU Spring Citrus Challenge. Holbert was named a WGCA Scholar All-American for her successful freshman year.
In her sophomore year, Holbert played 24 rounds in eight events and finished her sophomore campaign with a stroke average of 77.20 where she improved from 80.00 in the fall to 76.00 in the spring. She shot six rounds of 75 or better, including five of her last six rounds and produced two top-10 finishes. Holbert finished 21st at the MSU Spring Citrus Challenge with rounds of 73, 78 and 76, tied for 8th with a career-best total score of 222 after rounds of 74, 73 and 75 at the John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate and carded a season-best score of 72 in the first round of the A-SUN Championship where she finished tied for 10th.
For Holbert and her junior year, it's a journey for the ages to give it 100%.
Next is Madeline Marck-Sherk.
Coming from Ridgeway, Ontario, Canada, Marck-Sherk, like Easterbrook, is also one of Canada's best women's golfers.
In her freshman year, she played in 28 rounds at 10 tournaments for FGCU where she finished her rookie season with a stroke average of 77.79. Marck-Sherk shot eight rounds of 75 or better in the spring season, including five rounds in the final three events. She carded a 72 in the third round of the Pat Bradley Invitational, took a top-20 finish at the John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate with scores of 75, 77, 75, finished in eighth place at the A-Sun Championship with a three-round score of 226 and carded rounds of 79, 70 and 77 in the championship to finish third among all rookies.
Because of her strong finish, Marck-Sherk was named a member on the A-SUN All-Freshman Team.
Marck-Sherk's sophomore year was her moment to shine. She played 30 rounds over 10 events where she finished her sophomore campaign with a stroke average of 76.04 where she shot 10 rounds of 75 or under and produced three top-10 finishes. She finished first overall at the MSU Spring Citrus Classic after rounds of 71, 71 and 7. Her total score of 212 was the second-lowest in program history. She tied for 12th at the Redbird Invitational with rounds of 74, 74 and 76, shot rounds of 79, 76 and 71 for a total score of 226 at the 39th Annual FIU Pat Bradley Invitational and tied for 14th at the A-SUN Championship with rounds of 80, 75 and 77.
As a result of another strong finish, Marck-Sherk was named to the A-SUN All-Conference Second Team and the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar Team.
For Marck-Sherk, she will make a statement as Canada's greatest golfers.
The third junior is Jean Tyrell.
Hailing from Leawood, Kansas, Tyrell is strong-willed to make an impact.
In her freshman year, Tyrell played three rounds as a rookie with a stroke average of 79.33 and recorded scores of 82, 83, 73 at the Johnie Imes Invitational.
In her sophomore year, Tyrell played 11 rounds over 4 events and produced a stroke average of 79 where she shot three rounds of 75 or under. She carded a 73 in the third round of the USA Intercollegiate and in the second round of the Johnie Imes Invitational.
For Tyrell, she will make heads turn and represent Kansas in style.
The team can't have a good season without sophomores and these two sophomores make the magic happen: Ailsa Clark and Kate Williamson.
The first is Ailsa Clark.
Hailing from Navarre, Florida, Clark comes with one purpose: winning.
In her freshman year, Clark played in nine events for FGCU and finished the season with a 79.26 stroke average through 27 rounds as a rookie. Clark recorded a season-best 73 in the first round of the USA Intercollegiate and in the second round of the Spring Break Shootout. Her total score of 229 at the USA Intercollegiate was a career-best. After the season, Clark was named to the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar Team.
Though still with more experience to go, Clark will be a sharp force for the team this season.
Last, but never least, is actually one of my favorite golfers and one of the most kind-hearted on the whole team: Kate Williamson.
Coming from Deerfield Beach, Florida, Williamson's passion with the team is a strong as her heart of gold and a swing to make Tiger Woods look in shock.
In her freshman year, Williamson, despite having a few bad games, was shining brighter than the stars at night. She played 27 rounds over nine tournaments where produced a stroke average of 76.61 and shot nine rounds of 75 or under and recorded five top-20 performances, including two top-10 finishes. Williamson shot rounds of 79, 72 and 73 at the USA Intercollegiate for a total score of 224, shot a 68 in the first round of the Johnie Imes Invitational, which ties for the second-lowest round in program history, which followed up with back-to-back rounds of 74 for a season-best total score of 216 and an T8 finish and placed second overall at the Spring Break Shootout after carding rounds of 73, 74 and 72. Because of her strong will and hard work, Williamson was named a member of the A-SUN All-Freshman Team and A-SUN All-Conference Second Team. After the season, she named to the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar Team for her academics.
For Williamson, there is no doubt in my mind that she will give her best to the unlimited max.
The last golfer is the only freshman on the team: Natalia Nassar.
Hailing from Floridablanca, Colombia, Nassar is the only newcomer to join the FGCU women's golf team.
Prior to FGCU, Nassar graduated from Colegio Panamericano (Spanish: Pan American College) where she represented her native country in numerous high-profile tournaments winning several first-place finishes including first overall at the 2017 Colombian Open shooting 70-73-73-74, first overall at the 2017 AJGA Senior Showcase shooting 79-74-79 and first overall at the XXXIV Junior International Tournament in Guatemala.
Nassar posted back-to-back top-10 finishes in the Colombian Junior International, finishing her junior career with a stroke average of 74, shot rounds of 75, 73 and 72 en route to a first-place finish at the Abierto Ciudad de Barranquilla.
Nassar posted back-to-back top-10 finishes in the Colombian Junior International, finishing her junior career with a stroke average of 74, shot rounds of 75, 73 and 72 en route to a first-place finish at the Abierto Ciudad de Barranquilla.
For Nassar, I have no doubt in my mind that this newcomer is the real deal.
Meeting the women's golf team is quite something to experience. Even if there are home course for their games, it makes no difference because the golf team is hard working like any athlete at FGCU.
No matter if it's Ashley Kimbrough or Kate Williamson, whoever they may be, I just remember that they are just as talented and hard working to push it to the limit.
PC: http://www.fgcuathletics.com/index.aspx
PC: http://www.fgcuathletics.com/index.aspx
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