Statesmen Sixth at CMU Open
William Penn University Athletics
Boonville, Mo.–In the final real action before the league tournament, the William Penn men’s golf team showed some good and some bad at the Central Methodist Open Monday and Tuesday.
The Statesmen finished sixth out of 12 teams with a two-day score of 610 (316-294) at the par-71 Hail Ridge Golf Course. Columbia (Mo.) won the event at 587 (291-296), while Kaz Sakai of Missouri Valley claimed the medalist honor at three-under 139 (68-71).
WPU’s 294 was the lowest score by any team on Tuesday and helped the navy and gold improve three positions after the opening 18 holes. Spencer Skipper (Sr., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Business Management) was a big reason for the improvement as he bettered his first-day 79 by nine strokes to card a one-under 70 (best in the tournament that day) on Tuesday. The senior finished in a tie for 10th at 149.
The ‘red’ score is his second of the year and the second by a Statesmen linkster this season; it also ties for the lowest round by anyone on the team in regards to score (70) and score versus par (-1).
All four of Skipper’s varsity teammates also lowered their tallies after Monday, including Frederik Lundsgaard (So., Jebjerg, Denmark, History/Government) (15th, 76-74–150) and Brandon Dizon (Jr., San Leandro, Calif., Sociology) (T-16th, 79-73–152), both of whom also placed in the top 20 in the 66-player event.
Justin Bothma (Sr., Boksburg, South Africa, Business Management) tied for 42nd at 159 (82-77), while Ben Roberts (Sr., Albia, Iowa, General Accounting) tied for 48th at 163 (83-80).
William Penn’s junior varsity squad was excellent on day one, leading the varsity by 12 strokes, but it went in the opposite direction in the second round to place ninth at 629 (304-325).
Clay Tucker (Jr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Elementary Education) guided the second crew in a tie for 21st at 154 (75-79).
Zach Swink (Jr., Burlington, Iowa, Sociology) tied for 35th (79-78–157), Ethan Powers (Sr., Tipton, Iowa, Physical Education) tied for 39th (76-82–158), Charlie Hayes (Jr., Whitesboro, Texas, History/Government) tied for 46th (74-88–162), and Kyle Hashimoto (Jr., Acampo, Calif., Exercise Science) tied for 56th (85-86–171) as part of the JV’s efforts.
Next Up: William Penn returns to action next Monday by traveling to Moravia to host Iowa Wesleyan in The Preserve Shootout. The event, which will be contested at The Preserve Golf Course, will be a match play format with no traditional scoring.
