BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. -- Barry University women's golf team won the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagle Invitational Monday in a playoff with the host school.
The Buccaneers, ranked No. 4 in the Golf World/Women's Golf Coaches Association NCAA Division II national poll, finished the two-day, two-round, rain-shortened tournament with a team score of 296-300 -- 596. Florida Gulf Coast, a Division I institution, shot 303-293 -- 596 at Worthington Country Club.
Barry was awarded the title after the tiebreaker was determined by the fifth player, or non-team score counting participant, scores were tabulated from each round. Barry's Martina Bertuccioli shot 78-80 -- 158. FGCU's Chelsea Guoynes shot 81 in the first round, and Mei Khuan Yong shot 82 in the second.
Based on that, the Bucs were five-stroke playoff winners, despite not having to play extra holes on account of the weather at the eight-team, 47-player event.
In each of the two rounds, all four of Barry's counting score players shot in the 70s in each round. Sophomore Nicky Ferre was the tournament runner-up after shooting 75-71 -- 146. Junior Daniela Murray was third, a stroke behind Ferre, after carding a 75 in Monday's final round.
Maria Paola Fiorio tied for fifth after shooting 73-77 -- 150. Francesca Perini tied for eighth with a 76-77 -- 153.
"They're all hitting the ball well," coach Shannon Sykora said. "They're all eager to play, and it was good to get off to a good start. They came in prepared for the first tournament."
FGCU's Briana Carlson won the tournament by a stroke after shooting 72-73 -- 145. Her teammat Georgia Price finished fourth at 149, following a second round 74.
Perini and Ferre led the tournament with seven birdies apiece. Perini sank six birdies in the final round. Murray tied for the tournament lead in par-5 scoring at 2-under par.
Barry's Paloma Vega, competing as an individual, shot 81-80 -- 161, and tied for 30th.
"This is a good start going into (the) Nova (tournament)," Sykora said. "That's obviously a much bigger field. But I think they're happy they won the team title. There was a little disappointment that we didn't win the individual title.
"They all played decent, and not having Nancy (Vergara, last year's NCAA Division II individual national champion), and being able to to beat a Division I team, it's still good competition. The girls really played well."
Vergara was not able to compete due to illness.
Barry will compete in Nova Southeastern's Guy Harvey Invitational at PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens Oct. 7-8.