Four Top-10 Finishers Lead William Penn to Runner-Up Placing in Heart
Moravia–The Statesmen women’s golf team had four players finish in the top 10, but unfortunately fell just of defending its league crown as it competed at the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship Monday and Tuesday.
WPU placed second out of 10 teams with a three-round score of 952 (319-319-314) at the par-72 Preserve Golf Course. #22 Mount Mercy held off the navy and gold to capture the title at 938 (316-315-307. The Mustangs will now represent the Heart at the NAIA National Championship next month in Silvis, Ill.
MMU also had the individual medalist with Aoi Ito topping the 58-player field at 233 (78-77-78).
Emma Lawson (Jr., Rossville, Ind., Exercise Science) topped her crew by tying for second at 236. After back-to-back 81s on Monday, the junior stormed back with a 74 on Tuesday, tying for the lowest round of the event.
Lawson headed the field in both par-4 scoring (+7) and pars (34), while also placing fourth in par-5 scoring at +4. She managed three birdies (sixth overall) during the week as well.
Olivia Lange (Jr., Buckeburg, Germany, Business Management) was next as she tied for fourth at 237 (79-79-79), joining Ito as the only other linkster to score in the 70s in all three rounds of competition.
The junior, who recorded three birdies and 29 pars (ranked fourth), placed third amongst all players in par-4 scoring at +10.
Gabriana Franco (So., Tracy, Calif., Exercise Science) finished one stroke behind Lange to take sixth at 238 (80-78-80). The most dynamic player in the field with a tournament-best seven birdies, she was second in par-3 scoring (+3), sixth in par-4 scoring (+13), and 10th in par-5 scoring (+6).
Carlee Frayne (Sr., Garner, Iowa, Sport Management) also managed to place herself in the top 10 as she tied for ninth at 242 (79-81-82). The senior’s final collegiate performance included 27 pars and three birdies. She was sixth in par-4 scoring (+13) and 10th in par-5 scoring (+6).
Olivia Cramer (Jr., Lawton, Mich., Civil Engineering) represented WPU in the first two rounds and posted scores of 85 and 93. She tallied one birdie and nine pars.
Riley Burns (Jr., Edwardsville, Ill., Elementary Education) then replaced Cramer for the third and final 18 holes and carded an 81 that included two birdies and seven pars.
“It is tough to end our season a mere 14 strokes shy of our goal,” Head Coach Elise Warne said. “However, I am very proud of our ladies. Although we did not meet our goal, this has given them even more of a fire in their bellies for next year. I know they will come back even better.”
“Emma Lawson was a standout, finishing with a career low in her third round,” Warne added. “She has been so impressive this spring and finished just three shots shy of qualifying for nationals as an individual. I would also like to give a special shoutout to our lone senior Carlee Frayne who performed admirably in her final tournament. She has been an incredible teammate and has done everything we have ever asked of her.”
