BROKEN ARROW, Okla. - Florida Gulf Coast's women's golf team finished tied for eighth at the Route 66 Invitational honoring Dale McNamara at The Golf Club of Oklahoma. The Eagles closed with a 304 in Tuesday's final round for a three-round total of 40-over 904 (296-304-304).
 
FGCU shared eighth with Georgia and finished one shot behind seventh-place Texas A&M, while finishing 18 shots ahead of ASUN foe North Florida. The Eagles' opening-round 296 was the third-best team score of the first round. Georgia Southern won the team title at 10-over 874, and Georgia Southern's Margaux Brejo took medalist honors at 6-under 210.
 
Sydney Deal led the Eagles in a tie for ninth at 5-over 221, improving on her tie for 11th at the event last season. She opened with a 1-under 71, the Eagles' only under-par round of the tournament. Deal birdied Nos. 4 and 7 to turn in a 1-under 35, then closed the round with a birdie at the par-5 18th. In round two, she was 3-under through 11 holes before finishing with a 75. She closed with another 75, playing the back nine in even-par 36 with birdies at 15 and 17.
 
Annie Yost tied for 27th at 10-over 226 after rounds of 75, 74 and 77. She turned in a 1-under 35 in round one with birdies at Nos. 3, 5 and 9, then added a birdie at 10. Her 2-over 74 in round two was the Eagles' low score of the round.
 
Sarah Hyten tied for 32nd at 11-over 227 after rounds of 74, 77 and 76. She opened round one with a birdie at the par-5 first on the way to an even-par 36 on the front nine and added a birdie at 16.
 
Gia Culler-Guerra tied for 56th at 17-over 233 after rounds of 76, 81 and 76. She turned in a 1-under 35 in round one with birdies at Nos. 4 and 5 and birdied Nos. 8, 15 and 17 in the final round. Charlene Lamb tied for 60th at 18-over 234 after a 77, 78 and 79. She turned in an even-par 36 in round one with birdies at Nos. 4 and 8, then added a birdie at the par-5 13th.
 
Competing as an individual, Ann Burel tied for 71st at 21-over 237 after rounds of 77, 78 and 82. She recorded three birdies in round two at Nos. 8, 13 and 18.
 
Deal tied for 16th-most birdies in the field with seven, while Yost, Lamb and Culler-Guerra tied for 25th with six apiece. Hyten tied for third-most pars in the field with 39, and Yost tied for 20th with 36.
 
"We didn't finish the way we wanted over the last two rounds, but we competed with some very good programs this week. We'll take what we learned here and keep building," said head coach Shannon Sykora.
 
FGCU Scores:
T9. Sydney Deal - 221 (+5) (71-75-75)
T27. Annie Yost - 226 (+10) (75-74-77)
T32. Sarah Hyten - 227 (+11) (74-77-76)
T56. Gia Culler-Guerra - 233 (+17) (76-81-76)
T60. Charlene Lamb - 234 (+18) (77-78-79)
T71. Ann Burel (Ind.) - 237 (+21) (77-78-82)
 
Team Leaderboard:
1. Georgia Southern - 874 (+10)
2. Tulsa - 877 (+13)
3. Wisconsin - 890 (+26)
4. Rutgers - 897 (+33)
5. Cal Poly - 900 (+36)
6. Coastal Carolina - 902 (+38)
7. Texas A&M (B) - 903 (+39)
T8. Florida Gulf Coast - 904 (+40)
T8. Georgia - 904 (+40)
10. Oral Roberts - 910 (+46)
11. Iowa - 913 (+49)
12. Montana State - 916 (+52)
13. Colorado State - 921 (+57)
14. North Florida - 922 (+58)
15. Gonzaga - 924 (+60)
16. Seattle - 943 (+79)
 
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