JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Senior Claire Vermette battled her way to her third-straight Top-10 finish and led the Jacksonville State women's golf team at The Momentum Transportation UNF Collegiate presented by Gravity Diagnostics.
 
Jax State's lone upperclassman, Vermette finished tied for 10th out of 90 players, while the Gamecocks fought their way to 13th place in a tough field at the par-72, 5,964-yard Jacksonville Golf and Country Club.
 
"We saw a lot of bright flashes which was encouraging but, overall, our youth really showed itself," head coach Robbie Fields said. "We are learning and growing each time out and this week gave us another lesson to learn from. I am proud of our team's fight and I hope that begins to produce some better performances as well."
 
The Gamecocks carded a team score of 899, their third-straight event below 900. They opened the two-day tournament with a pair of 295's but finished on Tuesday with a final-round 309. Sam Houston won the 17-team event.
 
Vermette was the Gamecocks' low individual for the sixth time in seven events this season, signing for rounds of 73-72-71. The St. Petersburg, Fla., native improved on her score by one shot each day and used a 1-under final-round to climb eight spots into the Top 10 and finish with an even-par 216.
 
"I felt that this tournament was a good test to see what I need to improve on for the remainder of the semester," Vermette said. "Knowing that this was one of the best fields all year and to capture the top ten not playing my best golf made me feel like I'm trending in the right direction.
 
Freshman Ebby Somers got her tournament off to a great start, firing a 1-under 71 in Monday morning's opening round. The first collegiate round under par for the Valdosta, Ga., native set the tone for a 54-hole 225 that tied her for 43rd in the field. She finished with rounds of 76 and 78.
 
"I know Claire will be quite frustrated with her performance, but it's still impressive that an 'off' week for her is still good enough for a top 10 in one of the strongest fields we play all year," Fields added. "I'm so excited for Ebby to finally break through for an under-par round, she's worked really hard to earn that."
 
Sophomore Paula Perez Cubinas (76-73-77) toed for 50th with a 226, while redshirt freshman Aaron Whitley (76-75-83) and freshman Anna Ymbern Quinoa (75-75-84) each tied for 78th after shooting 234.
 
The Gamecocks will be back on the links in the Sunshine State soon, teeing off in Florida Gulf Coast's Spring Break Shootout on Monday and Tuesday at Lake Jovita Golf Club in Dade City, Fla.