WINDERMERE, Fla. – For the first time in 2020, the Nova Southeastern women's golf team will be returning home from a tournament without any hardware. In a loaded field featuring seven of the nation's Top-10 programs, the Sharks finished fourth Tuesday at the Peggy Kirk Bell Memorial Invitational with a combined score of (+18) 882. Valentina Albertazzi, the No. 1 player in NCAA Division II, led the way for the Sharks with a tie for ninth, while Hanna Ahlander earned a share of 11^th overall.

INSIDE THE TOURNAMENT:
Tournament Finish: 4th of 20 Teams
Tournament Champion: Dallas Baptist
Location: The Golden Bear Club at Keene's Point | Windermere, Fla.
Par/Yardage: 72/6,095
Get Social: Twitter - @NSU_WGolf | Instagram - @NSU_WGolf | Facebook - /NSUSharksGolf

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Entering the morning deadlocked with No. 11 Saint Leo, sixth-ranked Dallas Baptist pulled away for the eventual six-shot win thanks to a tournament-low round of (-5) 283 on Tuesday.
• Outside of Dallas Baptist (-5) and Saint Leo (+1), No. 9 Florida Southern (+3) captured third, while NSU (+18) and No. 3 Tampa (+19) rounded out the Top-5 of the leaderboard.
• Tied at seven-under par following 54 holes of play, Tampa's Kiira Riihijarvi went on to defeat Amanda Gartrell on the fifth playoff hole to earn individual medalist honors.
• Albertazzi continued her climb up the leaderboard Tuesday. After opening with rounds of 74 and 72 on Monday, the freshman posted red numbers in the final round with a score of (-2) 70 to close the week at even-par.
• Ahlander missed out on a Top-10 finish by a mere two strokes, capping the tourney at two-over par following a 74 over the final 18 holes.
• At six-over par, Sofia Garcia Ausst's 54-hole effort landed the junior in a tie for 27^th.
• Following consecutive rounds of 76 yesterday, Nicola Fall trimmed two shots off her score with a final round of 74 this afternoon, good enough for a share of 41^st.
• Mathilde Bertuol produced her best round of the week Tuesday, carding a five-over par 77 to wind up tied for 80^th, with Sol Santecchia wrapping up play at 28-over par as an individual participant.

BEYOND THE SCORECARD:

• Prior to Tuesday, the Sharks had won each of their three previous appearances at the Peggy Kirk Bell Memorial Invitational (2016-18).
• Albertazzi has now placed among the Top-10 in the first seven tournaments of her collegiate career.

UP NEXT:
NSU will return to competition on Monday, Mar. 23 for the start of the Barry Invitational down in Miami Lakes, Fla. To stay up-to-date with the Sharks, follow them on Twitter @NSU_WGolf.