PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's golf team competed for the second time this fall, playing with some of the best teams in the nation at the Seahawk Shootout on Monday and Tuesday. The Seahawk Shootout was played at The Match course at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens. The Gyrene women finished ninth in a field of eleven top teams, finishing ahead of a pair of in-state NAIA opponents in St. Thomas and Florida College.

Two Gyrenes were in the 70s in the opening round on Monday, led by Gracie Milam's 77. Morgan Hicks was just one shot behind Milam at 78 to lead the Gyrenes in the first of two Monday rounds. AMU's third counting score was provided by Marissa Spreitzer, who shot an 86 in her Ave Maria debut. The first round score was rounded out by Grace Wiggins, who carded a 105.

The Gyrenes were considerably better in the second round, also held on Monday. Ave Maria's team score was 17 strokes better in the second round, good for a four-player score of 329. Milam was again the top player at 78, with Spreitzer finishing second among Gyrenes with an 80. Hicks checked in with an 81, while Wiggins was 15 strokes better in the second round, heading into the clubhouse with a score of 90.

Once again, Ave Maria improved in the third round, shaving another four strokes off their team score. Milam and Wiggins were once again Ave Maria's top scorers, with Milam carding the best AMU round of the tournament at 76 and Spreitzer posting her best round as a Gyrene at 79. Hicks carded an 82 in the final round on Tuesday, while Wiggins concluded the AMU team score with an 88.

Milam accounted for Ave Maria's best three rounds of the tournament, and finished in the top third of the field with a 231. Hicks, who accounted for one of Ave Maria's other two rounds in the 70s, finished with a score of 241, while Spreitzer, led by her final round 79, checked in at 245. Wiggins was fourth among Gyrenes with a 54 hole score of 283, with Ava Bartosiak rounding out the effort at 295.

The hosts and reigning national champions from Keiser won the team title at PGA National, finishing 12 strokes ahead of NCAA Division II Palm Beach Atlantic and 22 shots ahead of third place SCAD-Savannah, who was ranked fourth in the preseason NAIA Coaches' Poll. The individual medal was won by Keiser's Carolin Alblas, who rode a 67 in the final round to a four stroke victory over a pair of players from Palm Beach Atlantic.

Ave Maria's next time on the course will be on another renowned Florida course, as the Gyrene will head to Innisbrook for Dalton State's Invite at Innisbrook, scheduled for September 23 and 24. Following Innisbrook will be the second annual Gyrene Invitational, held October 14 and 15 at The National in Ave Maria.