William Penn Takes Third Title in a Row, Yang Records Hole-in-One
William Penn University Athletics
Storm Lake–Led by eight players all in the top 10, the Statesmen women’s golf team will be playing its best entering the league tournament as it won the Buena Vista Invitational Saturday and Sunday.
#21 William Penn was first out of eight teams with a two-day tally of 653 (329-324) at the par-72 Lake Creek Country Club. Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) was a distant second at 681 (353-328).
The tournament title is WPU’s third in a row, sixth of the season, and 25th in the six-year tenure of Head Coach Nik Rule.
The Statesmen now have a week off before traveling to Nebraska City, Neb. to compete in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships on May 2-3. Play will be contested at Table Creek Golf Course. WPU is in search of its third-straight league title and its first Heart crown.
Varsity member Demi Coertze (Sr., Johannesburg, South Africa, Digital Communication) and individual Jing Yang (Sr., Woodland Hills, Calif., Biology) battled through windy and wet weather to share medalist honors at 159. Coertze posted scores of 79 and 80 in the 47-player event, while Yang, who had a hole-in-one on Sunday, carded a 77 and an 82. The hole-in-one is the first of Yang’s collegiate career.
Elise Warne (Fr., Melbourne, Australia, Exercise Science) placed fourth at 161 (81-80), while the trio of Natalie Booton (Sr., Mount Pleasant, Elementary Education) (84-83–167), Brooke Fletcher (So., Atlantic, Iowa, Business Management) (85-82–167), and Miranda Keeler (So., Plattsmouth, Neb., Communications) (85-82–167), all tied for eighth.
Courtney Cunningham (Jr., Muskogee, Okla., Computer Science), in fifth at 162 (83-79), and Jodi Saito (Jr., Mililani, Hawaii, Education), in sixth at 164 (86-78), also competed as individuals.
“Winning the title and having all of our players finish on the all-tournament team is an awesome accomplishment,” Coach Rule said. “Our players have really matured in the last few weeks, learning how to not only win, but score well in bad conditions. We are getting very close to playing our best golf and a good, focused, week of practice is going to be very beneficial.”
