HILTON HEAD, S.C. - The Armstrong Atlantic State University women's golf team went wire-to-wire in capturing the first team title in the seven year history of the program, shooting a final-round 317 on Monday to win the 4th Annual Newberry College Invitational by 22 strokes at Moss Creek Golf Club in Hilton Head, S.C.

The Pirates started the day with a 13-stroke lead over Lander, but carded the day's best round for a second straight day to pull away with the victory with a 628 total. Host Newberry shot a 320 on Monday to finish second with a two-day 650 total on the Par 74 - 5801 yard course, while Lander shot a 333 to finish third with a 657 total. USC Beaufort (667) and Pfeiffer (685) rounded out the Top 5 team scores.

The battle for the individual title came down to the back nine as first-round leader and sophomore Jenna Birch trailed teammate and sophomore Kristen Sammarco by one stroke at the turn. Birch birded the par-4 No. 12 hole while Sammarco bogied the hole and Birch then played the final six holes at even par to clinch the title in just her second tournament played as a Pirate.

Birch shot a four-over-par 78 to finish the tournament with a two-day five-over-par 153 total, three strokes ahead of Sammarco, who shot an 79 to finish with a 156 total. Armstrong also had the third place finisher in junior Kelly Pearce, who shot an 81 to finish with a two-day 157 total.

Senior Kim Knox carded a 79 to finish the tournament tied for 12th place individually with a 166 total while senior Victoria Bennett shot an 87 on Monday to finish tied for 21st with a 170 total.

The win is the first for Armstrong since women's golf became a varsity program in 2005-06 and it is also the first tournament win for Armstrong golf - men or women - since the men captured the Liberty Spring Invite at the Crosswinds on March 12-13, 2007.

Armstrong returns to action on March 5-6, hosting the Armstrong Pirate Women's Invitational at Savannah Quarters Country Club in Pooler, Ga.