Statesmen End Regular with Title at Augustana Event
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Rock Island, Ill.–The William Penn women’s golf team will enter postseason competition with a full head of steam after a balanced attack won the title at the Augustana Invitational Saturday and Sunday.
#22 WPU tied for first out of 14 teams with a two-day score of 623 (314-309) at the par-73 Highland Springs Golf Course. It is the program’s fifth crown of the season and third this spring.
The Statesmen tied Illinois Wesleyan (315-308–623) for the crown, but won the tiebreaker for lowest fifth score. The navy and gold’s fifth score on Sunday was a 79 from both Alexis Guimaraes (So., San Ramon, Calif., Psychology) and Brooke Fletcher (Sr., Atlantic, Iowa, Business Management), while IWU’s fifth score was an 82.
Illinois Wesleyan, which is 24th in GolfStat’s NCAA Division III rating, did have the individual medalist, though, as Jackie Garcia guided the 78-player field at 150 (75-75).
For the second tournament in a row, Elise Warne (Jr., Melbourne, Australia, Exercise Science) was out of the lineup with an injury, but once again the Statesmen stepped up in her absence.
Guimaraes was her crew’s top linkster, placing fifth at 155 (76-79), while the rest of the varsity lineup was within just four strokes of her.
Fletcher and Megan Rhoads (Jr., Schertz, Texas, Psychology) were next, tying for sixth at 156; Fletcher carded scores of 77-79, while Rhoads was at 81-75.
Helene Larsen (Jr., Viborg, Denmark, Business Management) tied for eighth at 157 (80-77), while Brittany Evans (So., Fernley, Nev., Business Management) tied for 13th at 159 (81-78).
Alyssa Kerry (Jr., Bend, Ore., Communications) competed as an individual as well and was 54th at 182 (90-92).
“What a great team victory for us heading into the conference tournament,” Head Coach Chris Pierson said. “Alexis has really stepped up these last two tournaments and Brooke did a fantastic job as well.”
“We always talk about how every score counts, and today it came down to our fifth score to determine the winner,” Pierson added. “I am so proud of these girls and how they battle together no matter what!”
Next Up: William Penn travels to Lawrence, Kan. on May 7-8 to compete in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships at Eagle Bend Golf Course. The tournament champion earns an automatic berth to the NAIA National Championships on May 22-25 in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
