William Penn Golfers Abundant on All-Conference Team
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–The incredible depth of the Statesmen women’s golf team has possibly never been put on display more than this week as the all-Heart of America Athletic Conference women’s golf teams were announced Tuesday at the league meet.
Of the 15 players on the squad, an amazing seven came from WPU, including Player of the Year Demi Coertze (Sr., Johannesburg, South Africa, Digital Communication). It is her fourth all-conference award and her first POY accolade. It is also the third year in a row that the program has had the league’s top linkster.
Joining Coertze is Natalie Booton (Sr., Mount Pleasant, Elementary Education), Courtney Cunningham (Jr., Muskogee, Okla., Computer Science), Miranda Keeler (So., Plattsmouth, Neb., Communications), Jodi Saito (Jr., Mililani, Hawaii, Education), Elise Warne (Fr., Melbourne, Australia, Exercise Science), and Jing Yang (Sr., Woodland Hills, Calif., Biology). The awards are the second for both Booton and Yang (both honorable mentions in the past), while Cunningham, Keeler, Saito, and Warne are all first-time recipients.
Recognition was awarded to the top five finishers at this week’s league meet as well as the 10 players with the lowest cumulative stroke averages in GolfStat’s rankings.
Coertze has easily been the Statesmen’s #1 player, owning a 78.8 stroke average over 24 rounds. She has tallied five tournament wins and six other top-10 efforts. The senior has managed to card 14 rounds in the 70s with a low of 72 in her first competition of the year in August.
Booton, an honorable-mention all-MCC pick last year, has an 83.4 average in 23 rounds. Her low round of 73 came in October; she has broken the 80 barrier on three occasions. The senior has recorded seven top-10 showings this season.
Cunningham’s 83.5 average comes over 22 rounds. The junior has produced six top-10 performances with a low round of 76 occurring in October (four other rounds in the 70s as well).
Keeler is at 83.1 (24 rounds) entering nationals later this month. Her low round of 76 in September highlights a total of six efforts in the 70s. The sophomore has finished in the top 10 on seven occasions.
Saito, the owner of an 83.1 stroke average (22 rounds), has been in the top 10 six times. The junior has broken 80 seven times, including a season low of 78 in three showings.
Warne is at 82.3 (24 rounds) with nationals still to come. The freshman’s seven rounds in the 70s (73 in October) is joined by six top-10 outings.
Yang has a current average of 82.7 over 21 rounds with a low of 75 happening in September. The senior, who was an honorable-mention all-MCC selection two seasons ago, has won one tournament (eight other top-10 efforts). She has been in the 70s three times.
Head Coach Nik Rule was also tabbed by his peers as the Heart Coach of the Year. It is the third award of his career.
“This is a great testament to our depth and the hard work our players put into their game,” Rule said. “I am very proud of them.”
Heart All-Conference Team
Lindsey Mateer, Baker
Samantha Mitchell, Baker
Ellie Ament, Clarke
Lucy Clark, Culver-Stockton
Maria Mantilla, Grand View
Kimberly Nelson, Grand View
Meg Monson, Mount Mercy
Marisa Pribnow, Peru State
Natalie Booton, William Penn
Demi Coertze, William Penn
Courtney Cunningham, William Penn
Miranda Keeler, William Penn
Jodi Saito, William Penn
Elise Warne, William Penn
Jing Yang, William Penn
Coach of the Year: Nik Rule, William Penn
Player of the Year: Demi Coertze, William Penn
Tournament Medalist: Lucy Clark, Culver-Stockton
