FGCU W-Golf: WKU Shootout Recap

The FGCU women’s golf team wrapped up with a third place finish out of all 14 teams that participated in the WKU Spring Break Shootout in Dade City, Florida. The Eagles’ third place is the best finish of the year in non-match play format.

In addition, the Eagles finished behind runner-up and fellow conference member Jacksonville (+40) (300-296-308—904) and eventual winner and co-host Western Kentucky (+16) (289-301-290—880) with a final score of 909 (+45) (298-306-305).

Junior Madeline Marck-Sherk recorded the team’s best individual finish of the year as she finished fourth among 84 golfers behind a final round 76 that gave her a three-round tally of 222 and a final score of +6 (75-71-76). Her fourth place finish is a team individual best of the year, which tops her own ninth place showing at the USF Intercollegiate on Oct. 30 and 31. In fact, Marck-Sherk’s 71 tied her second round total from the Johnie Imes Invitational, which was her best finish of the year.

“I’m proud of the girls for their top three finish and very proud of Madeline for her fourth place finish,” FGCU head coach Sarah Trew said. “We played OK today overall. I would say everybody can definitely take something they can work on from here. Next week, we are heading to a course that we have very fond memories of and are excited to get back out there.”

Two other Eagles joined Marck-Sherk finishing in the top 25. Junior Kelsy Holbert finished tied for 12th with a score of +12 (75-75-78—228) while freshman Natalia Nassar, who recently earned the A-SUN Golfer of the Week after her strong performance from the Women’s Mid-American Match Play Challenge, finished tied with a 21st place finishing with a score of +15 (76-81-74—231). Nassar finished with a team-best 74 in the final round.

Sophomore Kate Williamson and senior Madison Easterbrook were the only two Eagles that did not finish in the top 25. Williamson tied for 39th with a score of +18 (78-79-77—234) while Easterbrook finished tied for 49th with a score of +23 (72-84-83—239). Williamson’s 77 was her best round while Easterbrook’s 72 was her best round of the year and the best round overall in the tournament for the Eagles.

Redshirt sophomore Jean Tyrell, who represented FGCU, competing as an individual, finished in a tie for 54th place with a score of +24 (80-81-79- 240).

TEAM STANDINGS:
1. #106 Western Kentucky - 289-301-290---880 (+16)
2. #89 Jacksonville - 300-296-308---904 (+40)
3. #121 FGCU - 298-306-305---909 (+45)
4. #217 FAU - 308-301-303---912 (+48)
5. #186 UALR - 298-312-305---915 (+51)
6. #135 Towson - 305-307-306---918 (+54)
T7. #180 Oakland - 310-308-310---928 (+64)
T7. #141 Arkansas State - 314-306-308---928 (+64)
9. #189 Ball State - 311-305-313---929 (+65)
10. #158 Georgia Southern - 306-313-312---931 (+67)
11. #223 Central Michigan - 317-304-313---934 (+70)
12. #208 Ohio - 308-314-323---945 (+81)
13. #238 Fort Wayne - 314-323-324---961 (+97)
14. #245 Lipscomb - 334-328-335---997 (+133)

Quotes From Other Coaches:
WKU: "I'm so proud of the team this week," head coach Adam Gary said. "They were focused and prepared while I was busy running the tournament. To win by 24 over a good field is a real confidence boost. Mary Joiner's eight-shot victory was very impressive. I'm glad to see her hard work paying off."

JU: "We were able to hold on to second even though we didn't play our best," said head coach Jennifer Borocz. "The course was scoreable today, but the whole field struggled."

Georgia Southern: "We left a lot of shots out there this week. With this young squad, we know there will be bumps in the road, but as long as we learn from them and continue the process of getting better each day, we will continue on our upward trajectory," said head coach Emily Kuhfeld. "We are proud of Ansley for finishing strong and proud of the energy and support all the girls showed each other this week. We are looking forward to sharpening up a few things and getting back out to compete."

Central Michigan: “Two out of three is pretty good,” said CMU coach Cheryl Stacy, whose team opened on Monday with a loss to Bowling Green, followed by a victory over Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne. “We were a little upset losing to Bowling Green because it did knock us out of (the chance) to play four rounds. I was really pleased with the consistency of play. We started a little slow, but finished pretty strong as a team.”

“We’re just a better team. You could see it,” Stacy said. “We’re competitive with MAC teams, and we’re starting to beat some teams. There is room for improvement too. It’s exciting and encouraging.”

FGCU will be back in action Mar. 18-20 in the MSU Citrus Classic at the Redtail Golf Club in Sorrento, Florida, hosted by Morehead State. Tee times will vary between the teams participating in the three rounds.