BRASELTON, Ga. – The FGCU women's golf team used final round of 303 on Monday to tie a program-best second-place finish at the ASUN Championship. Senior Megan Blonien found herself knotted up with Lipscomb's Samantha Griffith for first place in the field of 35 golfers, but fell to Griffith in a one-hole playoff, conceding the tournament crown.
 
The Green and Blue carded rounds of 305 and 297 on Sunday, before its final round of 303 on Monday for a total team score of 905.
 
The Ospreys captured the win for the second-straight season with a score of 898 after rounds of 306, 295 and 297. Kennesaw State finished third, five shots behind the Eagles, with rounds of 311, 305 and 294 for a total score 910. Jacksonville jumped Stetson to round out the top four with a total score 928 after shooting their best round of 303 on Monday.
 
"We are clearly disappointed with the results today and expected to have a better round," said head coach Sarah Trew. "We gave away too many shots on 8 and the par fives. Overall though, I'm very proud of what we have done this year. We've had a lot of positives. This is the second-straight year we've been in contention in the final round, and that's all you cab ask for. This is a very talented group of young ladies, and I'm privileged to be able to work with them. Megan (Blonien) played so well today. What a fun round to watch her play. On the last hole she needed to make a birdie to tie and she hit it two feet and knocked in the putt. She didn't get the result she wanted in the playoff, but what a year for her. She's made a huge impact on our program and we cannot thank her enough."
 
After back-to-back rounds of 74 during yesterday's 36 holes, Blonien (Altus, Okla./Altus HS) shot a stellar final round of 71 (-2), which included five birdies. Her even par score of 219 tied her for first place, but Lipscomb's Griffith topped Blonien in the playoff, which took place on the 18th hole. Her 14 birdies in the three-round event were the most by any player in the field, and her impressive play landed her on the ASUN All-Tournament Team.
 
Holbert (Lutz, Fla./Steinbrenner HS) tied for 10th in the 35-player field after rounds of 72, 75 and 80. She birdied on the first shot of her final round, but hit a rough patch on holes 5-8. The sophomore started to recover on her back nine with five-straight par shots, but was hindered by a triple on hole 17. A birdie on her final hole helped her recover.
 
Marck-Sherk (Ridgeway, Ontario/Ridgeway Crystal Beach HS) finished five shots behind Holbert after a final round of 77 with 13 par holes. Her total score of 232 tied her for 14th in the field.
 
Junior Madison Easterbrook (Burlington, Ontario/Aldershot HS) struggled at the beginning of her final round with an over-eight score through her front nine. She recovered on the back nine with seven par shots and a birdie, finishing with a score of 82. With scores of 79 and 73 on her first two rounds, she totaled 234, which tied for 16th in the field.
 
Freshman Kate Williamson (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Archbishop McCarthy HS) shot her best score of the tournament in Monday's final round. After rounds of 81 and 82 on Sunday, she carded four birdies and 10 even par holes for a final round score of 75. Her total score of 238 landed her 23rd in the field.
 
Thanks to the team's high finish the Eagles tie a program record with six top-five finishes on the year.
 
FGCU Lineup
T1) Megan Blonien: 74+74+71 = 219 (E)
T10) Kelsy Holbert: 72+75+80 = 227 (+8)
T14) Madeline Marck-Sherk: 80+75+77 = 232 (+13)
T16) Madison Easterbrook: 79+73+82 = 234 (+15)
23) Kate Williamson: 81+82+75 = 238 (+19)
 
Complete Field (Golfstat Ranking as of 4/11 Designated By #)
1. #136 North Florida: 306+295+297 = 898 (+22)
2. #128 FGCU: 305+297+303 = 905 (+29)
3. #86 Kennesaw State: 311+305+294 = 910 (+34)
5. #105 Jacksonville: 319+306+303 = 928 (+52)
4. #153 Stetson: 307+311+312 = 930 (+54)
6. #193 USC Upstate: 321+314+314 = 949 (+73)
7. #235 Lispcomb: 345+314+318 = 977 (+101)
 
All Tournament Team
Medy Thavong – Kennesaw State
Dulcie Sverdloff – Kennesaw State
Sydney Shrader – North Florida
Megan Blonien – FGCU
Samantha Griffith – Lipscomb
 
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 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. 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 in the second round 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.