Chegwidden Named Heart POY, Tucker COY
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–Zachary Chegwidden (So., Essex, England, Business Management) was named the best linkster in the league as the all-Heart of America Athletic Conference Men’s Golf teams were recently announced.
Chegwidden was named Heart Player of the Year, while teammate Sebastian Rulis (Sr., Helsingor, Denmark, Business Management) joined him on the 15-person all-conference team. The all-Heart award is the second for Chegwidden; Rulis is a first-time recipient.
It is believed that Chegwidden’s POY accolade is the first in school history.
Head Coach Steve Tucker was also named Heart Coach of the Year. It is believed this is also the first time William Penn has collected a COY award.
Tucker’s crew is in the midst of posting arguably the best campaign in program history. The Statesmen won four tournament crowns, highlighted by taking this week’s Heart Championships to earn a bid to WPU’s first-ever NAIA National Championships in two weeks.
Chegwidden enters nationals with a 73.7 stroke average in 22 rounds of competition. He has been in the 60s or 70s in all but two rounds and has broken par eight times with a low score of 66. The sophomore has won three tournament titles, including the league event, and has been in the top 12 in all but one of his 10 competitions.
Chegwidden was a five-time Heart Golfer of the Week this season.
Rulis has also been strong this year, owning a 75.7 stroke average in 22 rounds. The senior has only gone under par once (low of 70), but has been incredibly consistent with 21 rounds in the 70s. He did not finish outside the top 20 all year, highlighted by five top-10 finishes.
2017-2018 All-Heart of America Athletic Conference
Heart Player of the Year–Zachary Chegwidden (William Penn)
Heart Coach of the Year–Steve Tucker (William Penn)
Riley Kemmer, Baker
Hunter Baggett, Culver-Stockton
Jon Roberson, Culver-Stockton
Dillon Bekeneier, Evangel
Mitch Pfingsten, Grand View
Braxton Risetter, Grand View
Shawn Cook, Missouri Valley
Hamish Gorn, Missouri Valley
Jan Jedlicka, Missouri Valley
Grant Numrich, Missouri Valley
Max Rogers, Missouri Valley
William Bruyeres, Mount Mercy
Thomas Schuhkraft, Mount Mercy
Zachary Chegwidden, William Penn
Sebastian Rulis, William Penn
