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FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Florida Gulf Coast University women’s golf team wrapped up its fall season with a runner-up finish at the Pat Bradley Invitational, a schedule that stretched from Japan to South Bend, and the first collegiate victory for sophomore Annie Yost.
 
“This fall gave us a lot to build on,” said head coach Shannon Sykora. “We played a demanding schedule against some very good programs, and the experience of competing in Japan and against top teams helped this group grow every week. Finishing second at the Pat Bradley showed what we’re capable of when we put it together, and Annie’s win was a great reward for the work she’s put in. We know where we need to improve, and we’re excited to get back to work heading into the spring.”
 
FGCU played 15 rounds across five tournaments this fall, posting a 295.40 adjusted scoring average and closing the semester nationally ranked No. 115.
 
The Eagles’ signature week came in the fall finale at the Pat Bradley Invitational at Miami Lakes Golf Club, where FGCU finished second at 16-over 880, three shots behind champion Arkansas State and four ahead of third-place Grand Canyon. Yost closed with a 1-under 71 to finish at 1-under 215 (76-68-71) and share medalist honors with Arkansas State’s Mackenzie Cloutier and Miami’s Rebekah Gardner. The win was the first of her collegiate career and gave FGCU its first individual champion since Leonie Wulfers won the Momentum Transportation UNF Collegiate in February. As a team, the Eagles posted the third-most birdies (36) and second-most pars (146) in the field.
 
The fall opened overseas at the Pan Pacific University Golf Super League Tournament in Shizuoka, Japan, where FGCU placed eighth and saved its best team round for last with a final-round 289. The Eagles finished 10th at the Fighting Irish Classic at Notre Dame’s Warren Golf Course and tied for eighth at the Route 66 Invitational in Broken Arrow, Okla., where their opening-round 296 was the third-best team score of the first round. FGCU also placed eighth at the Lady Paladin Invitational at Furman, recording the third-most pars in the field with 168.
 
Individually, junior Sydney Deal led the Eagles at two events and recorded three top-20 finishes. Her top showing came at the Route 66 Invitational, where she tied for ninth at 5-over 221, improving on her tie for 11th at the event last season, behind an opening 1-under 71 that was FGCU’s only under-par round of the week. At the Fighting Irish Classic, she opened with a 69, the Eagles’ low round of the tournament, on her way to a tie for 18th. Deal also tied for 12th at the Pat Bradley and ends the fall ranked No. 464 nationally.
 
Yost, ranked No. 490, added a tie for 27th at the Route 66 Invitational and a tie for 30th at the Lady Paladin. Freshman Sarah Hyten tied for sixth at the Pat Bradley at 3-over 219, closing with an even-par 72, and tied for 24th at the Lady Paladin after posting the Eagles’ low round of the final day. Hyten ends her first collegiate fall ranked No. 596.
 
Freshman Charlene Lamb carded a 4-under 67 in the final round in Japan, FGCU’s best round of the tournament, and posted her top finish at the Lady Paladin, tying for 22nd at 2-over 218 (70-74-74). Gia Culler-Guerra recorded her best finish of the fall at the Pat Bradley, tying for 36th at 11-over 227. Junior Ann Burel competed as an individual in three events, highlighted by a tie for 26th at the Pat Bradley, where she eagled the par-5 12th in the final round. Freshman Veronika Niklin made her collegiate debut as an individual at the Pat Bradley.
 
FGCU opens the spring Feb. 1-3 at the UCF Challenge, hosted by UCF at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, Fla.

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