SORRENTO, Fla. – Led by a trio of top-10 performances and despite wind gusts up to 25 mph in Sorrento, the FGCU women's golf team got off to a strong start on its first day of the MSU Citrus Classic. The Eagle's 12-over score of 300 after the first round of play has the team in second place going into day two.
 
"Conditions made the course pretty difficult today," said head coach Sarah Trew. "The wind gusts were strong and the longer holes were playing dead into the wind. Madeline (Marck-Sherk), Megan (Blonien) and Kelsy (Holbert) played phenomenal golf today. They kept it very simple, and were able to escape with a bogey when they got into trouble. We definitely played the 18th hole better this year, but number 10 is still giving us trouble so we'll make some adjustments out there. We're very close to playing really well. We just need to get our four score under 80. Madeline's 71 was a very good round, especially considering the conditions. She's swinging out really well, and I thought she did a good job managing her way around the course. We are excited to tee it up again tomorrow and see if we can shave a few shots off."
 
Battling through tough conditions, sophomore Madeline Marck-Sherk (Ridgeway, Ontario/Ridgeway Crystal Beach HS) led 84-player field after a stellar first round of 71 (-1).
 
Megan Blonien (Altus, Okla./Altus HS) and Kelsy Holbert (Lutz, Fla./Steinbrenner HS) also finished with low marks. Their plus-one scores of 73 have them tied for sixth in the field.
 
Competing as an individual, junior Madison Easterbrook (Burlington, Ontario/Aldershot HS) finished with a plus-6 score of 78, which ties her for 27th after 18 holes.
 
Freshman duo Ailsa Clark (Navarre, Fla./Navarre HS) and Kate Williamson (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy HS) finished just two shots apart with scores of 83 and 85 respectively.
 
The Eagles are just two shots out of first place, held by Texas A&M – Corpus Christi. FGCU has two rounds to go to catch the Islanders, starting tomorrow.
 
COMPLETE FIELD (Golf Stat Rankings as of 3/14/2017)
1. 194 Texas A&M - Corpus Christi: 298 (+10) 
2. 149 FGCU: 300 (+12) 
3. 155 Akron: 302 (+14) 
4. 86 Murray State: 306 (+18) 
5. 156 Jacksonville St.: 307 (+19) 
T6. 159 Morehead State: 310 (+22) 
T6. 178 Towson: 310 (+22) 
8. 145 Marshall: 311 (+23) 
T9. 132 Western Kentucky: 315 (+27) 
T9. 214 Northern Kentucky: 315 (+27) 
T9. 143 UMKC: 315 (+27) 
12. 208 Western Illinois: 320 (+32) 
13. 187 Austin Peay State: 323 (+35) 
14. 248 Eastern Illinois: 346 (+58) 
 
COACH TREW
Head coach Sarah Trew recently is currently in her 6th season at the helm of the FGCU women's golf team after being named ASUN Coach of the Year in 2016. Trew took over in 2011 and has since guided the Eagles to the program's best-ever finish in the ASUN Tournament and to 20 top-10 finishes. A year ago, Trew led the team to several records on and off the course. 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. The 2015-16 squad recorded a new program best with a 305.29 average and took a second-place finish at the conference tournament. In that event, the Eagles carded a team score of 290 to set the program's new record and earned the top finish in program history.
 
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.