FGCU WGOLF: A-SUN Championship Day Three Recap

For the first time in program history, the FGCU women's golf team placed three players among the top 10 at the A-SUN Championship as the Eagles produced a 54-hole 923 (+47) to finish second among seven teams at Chateau Elan's Legends Course on Tuesday.

"We played very well today," FGCU head coach Sarah Trew said. "A top-two finish is something to be proud of as the A-SUN is very strong. To have three players in the top 10 and two in the top five is an awesome showing."

The Green and Blue recorded a final-round 305 (+13), which was lowest among all teams. Kennesaw State won the team championship with a 910 (+34), finishing 13 strokes ahead of FGCU and 26 ahead of North Florida.

Sophomore Natalia Nassar and freshman Laura Edmonds each fired a 76 (+3) on Tuesday, which allowed them to finish fourth and tied for fifth, respectively. They were each named to the all-tournament team. Meanwhile, senior Kelsy Holbert shot a 79 in her final collegiate round to finish in eighth place.

Previously, the Eagles placed two among the top 10 in each of the past three seasons and in 2011 and 2013, but they have never had three until this year. junior Ailsa Clark led her team in the final round with a low-score of 74 (+1), which tied her A-SUN Championship career-low in relation to par after last year's second-round 72 (+1).

Edmonds nearly produced the best tournament finish in program history for a freshman (Briana Carlson, 3rd Place, 2010), but settled for a top five finish and second-best. Meanwhile, Nassar closed her sophomore campaign with a 228 (+9), which resulted in a season-best finish and was just five shots shy of medalist, Medy Thavong of Kennesaw State.

Holbert joined her teammate, classmate Madeline Marck-Sherk, in becoming one of just four players in program history with at least two top-10 finishes at the A-SUN Championship. The other two include Briana Carlson (3) and Megan Blonien (2). Holbert finished with a 233 (+14).

Marck-Sherk notched her 15th career top-20 finish behind a 246 (+27). Along with Holbert, the senior duo led the Green and Blue to three top-two finishes at the A-SUN Championship in their two careers.

"I cannot thank Kelsy and Madeline for all they have done," Trew said. "They are some of the best teammates you could ever ask for and are going to be dearly missed. Our program wouldn't be where it is today without them."

Team Standings (#GolfStat ranking as of April 16)
1. #37 Kennesaw State - 309-290-311---910 (+34)
2. #112 FGCU - 317-301-305---923 (+47)
3. #68 North Florida - 314-313-309---936 (+60)
4. #146 Stetson - 326-312-325---963 (+87)
5. #142 Jacksonville - 345-319-332---996 (+120)
6. #230 Lipscomb - 341-345-337---1,023 (+147)
7. n/a North Alabama - 368-345-351---1,064 (+188)

Individual Standings
4. Natalia Nassar - 81-7176---228 (+9)
T-5. Laura Edmonds - 78-75-76---229 (+10)
8. Kelsy Holbert - 77-77-79---233 (+14)
T-14. Ailsa Clark - 82-85-74---241 (+22)
T-20. Madeline Marck-Sherk - 81-78-87---246 (+27)

A-SUN Championship All-Tournament Team
Medy Thavong, Kennesaw State
Roanne Tomlinson, Kennesaw State
Clara Aveling, Kennesaw State
Natalia Nassar, FGCU
Justin Lauer, Stetson
Laura Edmonds, FGCU
Lissette Davalos, North Florida