FGCU WGolf: Mid-American Match Play Challenge Recap

 The top-seeded FGCU women's golf team defeated Akron and Western Michigan to capture the Mid-American Match Play Challenge championship on Tuesday at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club.

"What a way to start the season. I am very proud of the team for finishing out this win," FGCU head coach Sarah Trew said. "It's never easy to secure a victory even when you are the top-seeded team in match play. This morning, we started out really rough but pulled it together and played phenomenal golf on the back nine. We were able to take that confidence into the championship match and pull out the win. Kudos to Akron and Western Michigan for great play today."

The trio of Sarah Edwards, Natalia Nassar and Ailsa Clark each won both of their head-to-head matches to carry the Eagles to the title. Edwards took care of business first in the championship, clinching her win on the 14th hole, just before Clark won hers on the 15th hole. Nassar, meanwhile, won the 17th hole to clinch the title-securing third win.

Tuesday's victory represented the program's first Mid-American Match Play Challenge championship after two consecutive runner-up finishes. The Eagles also finished third in 2017.

The Green and Blue will be back in action in two weeks at the Amelia Island College on Feb. 17-18. FGCU finished second as a team in the event last year, while Edmonds captured medalist honors.

Tuesday's Results
Semifinals
No. 1 FGCU d. No. 4 Akron 3-2-0
No. 6 Western Michigan d. No. 7 Morehead State in playoff (T 2-2-1)

Championship
No. 1 FGCU d. No. 6 Western Michigan 3-1-1

Individual Results
FGCU d. Akron 3-2-0 (Semifinals)
1. Laura Edmonds loses 2UP to Jennifer David
2. Ailsa Clark wins 2UP over Ivana Shah
3. Natalia Nassar wins 2UP over Jessica Hahn
4. Sarah Edwards wins 4&3 over Riley Dean
5. Isabella Portokalis loses 3&1 to Jacinta Pikunas

FGCU d. Western Michigan 3-1-1 (Finals)
1. Laura Edmonds ties Jasmine Chee
2. Ailsa Clark wins 4&3 over Fiona Wang
3. Natalia Nassar wins 3&1 over Brooke Gibbons
4. Sarah Edwards wins 5&4 over Alissa Fish
5. Isabella Portokalis loses 4&2 to Cameryn Lucia