TAMPA, Fla. - The FGCU women's golf team sits in sixth place through day one of the USF Intercollegiate at TPC Tampa Bay behind a strong second round and the play of Madeline Marck-Sherk and Natalia Nassar.

FGCU totaled a 626 (+58) over 36 holes on Monday and is 17 strokes behind first-place Lynn University (609, +41), who has a seven shot lead over Barry University. Georgetown (619, +51), South Florida (624, +56) and William & Mary (624, +56) are positioned between Barry and FGCU.

The Eagles shot a 321 over the first 18 holes, which was good for an eighth place tie. However, the team improved by 16 strokes in the second round and tied Lynn University for the low second round score to improve its standing.

"As you can see by the scores across the board, the course was playing tough," FGCU head coach Sarah Trew said. "In the first round, we got off to a pretty rough start and panicked a little, which is unusual for us. We tried to right the ship, but had a few bumps along the way.

"In the second round, we looked much better. We still had some careless shots but overall we were more consistent as a team and really grinded out our round. Madeline and Natalia stepped up in a big way and helped contribute to us tying for the low round in the second 18. We aren't that far out of second and this course is one where you can make up some shots pretty quickly. We are eager to get out there Tuesday and move up the leaderboard."

Marck-Sherk (Ridgeway, Ontario/Ridgeway Crystal Beach HS) is currently tied for eighth place with a 153 (+11), while Nassar (Floridablanca, Colombia/Colegio Panamericano) is tied for 12th place with a 154 (+12). Marck-Sherk shot a 79 in the opening round to lead the Eagles, but Nassar's second-round 73 edged Marck-Sherk by one stroke for the team-low.

Kate Williamson, Ailsa Clark and Kelsy Holbert rounded out the FGCU lineup. Williamson (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy HS) and Clark (Navarre, Fla./Navarre HS), who each shot a second-round 79, finished with a 159 (+17) and 160 (+18), respectively. Holbert (Lutz, Fla./Steinbrenner HS) checked in with a 167 (+25). Madison Easterbrook (Burlington, Ontario/Aldershot HS), who is competing as an individual, shot a 162 (+20) and is currently tied for 44th place overall. She had an opening round 76, which would have led the Eagles lineup.

FGCU tallied 13 birdies over the first 36 holes, which was one shy of matching Barry University for the most among all teams. Individually, Nassar tied for fourth among all golfers with a 2.88 average on par 3 holes. 

Action tees off at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Fans are welcome to watch the event for free at TPC Tampa Bay, which is located at 5300 West Lutz Fern Road in Lutz. Spectator carts are available for $35.

FGCU LINEUP
T-8. Madeline Marck-Sherk - 79-74---153 (+11)
T-12. Natalia Nassar - 81-73---154 (+12)
T-31. Kate Williamson - 80-79---159 (+17)
T-36. Ailsa Clark - 81-79---160 (+18)
T-44. Madison Easterbrook - 76-86---162 (+20)*
T-53. Kelsy Holbert - 84-83---167 (+25)
* Competing as an individual

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Lynn University 304-305---609 (+41)
2. Barry University 309-307---616 (+48)
3. Georgetown 303-316---619 (+51)
T-4. South Florida 315-309---624 (+56)
T-4. William & Mary 313-311---624 (+56)
6. FGCU 321-305---626 (+58)
T-7. Towson 321-306---627 (+59)
T-7. Rollins College 321-306---627 (+59)
9. Stetson 319-311---630 (+62)
10. UAB 321-317---638 (+70)
11. Lamar University 317-325---642 (+74)
12. McNeese State 326-332---658 (+90)
13. Keiser University 335-336---671 (+103)
14. South Florida (B) 353-334---687 (+119)

NOTES
Barry University is the defending NCAA Division II national champion, while Lynn University has finished in the top four in five of its six tournaments this spring. They are ranked sixth and eighth in the nation, respectively, at the Division II level by GolfStat.

IRMA RELIEF DONATIONS
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, many individuals and families throughout Southwest Florida are still in desperate need of assistance. To aid in those relief efforts, FGCU Athletics will be collecting donations at all Eagle home games for the immediate future. Donation items most needed include: non-perishable food, clothing, household items and first-aid supplies. Additionally, those unable to attend upcoming home games can drop off donations in canisters located in the Alico Arena lobby. All donations will be given to those hardest hit in Lee and Collier counties.
 
COACH TREW
Head coach Sarah Trew is in her 7th season at the helm of the FGCU women's golf team. Trew took over in 2011 and has since guided the Eagles to the program's best-ever finish in the ASUN Tournament and to 23 top-5 finishes. The 2013-14 squad set a new single-season scoring record with a team average of 307.88, while also setting a new benchmark academically. The spring of 2015 saw the Eagles again take third place at the ASUN Championship, and recording their best team score of the season while 2016 again set a new standard. In 2015-16, Trew earned her first ASUN Coach of the Year title after the squad recorded a new program best with a 305.29 average and took second-place at the conference tournament – the program's best finish in the event. In the second round of that tournament, the Eagles carded a team score of 290 to set a low-round program record. The 2016-17 Eagles repeated that success with another second-place finish in the ASUN Championship and for the third time since Trew took over, set a new record with a 302.30 stroke average on the season.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-the minute information and a behind-the-scenes look at the FGCU women's golf program, follow on Twitter at @FGCU_WGolf and on Facebook at /FGCUWGolf.