Franco Picked for Newcomer of the Year, Warne Coach of the Year, Five Honored
Oskaloosa–Five members of the William Penn women’s golf program brought home hardware as the 2022-2023 all-Heart of America Athletic Conference team was announced Tuesday.
The quartet of Gabriana Franco (Fr., Tracy, Calif., Exercise Science), Carlee Frayne (Jr., Garner, Iowa, Sport Management), Courtney Jackson (Sr., Liberty Lake, Wash., Digital Communication), and Olivia Lange (So., Buckeburg, Germany, Business Management) were named to the 15-person team.
Frayne is now a three-time honoree, while Jackson and Lange have both collected two awards. Franco, who was also tabbed as the league’s Newcomer of the Year, is on the team for the first time.
The top five individuals at this week’s Heart Championship automatically received an all-Heart award, while the remaining honorees were chosen by using the GolfStat Individual Adjusted Scoring Average ranking.
William Penn Head Coach Elise Warne also won the Coach of the Year laurel in her first season at the helm.
The all-Heart honorees led William Penn to six tournament crowns, including taking this week’s Heart Championship title. It is the program’s second title in a row, its sixth in the last eight years (no Championship in 2020), and its eighth all-time. The Statesmen have now qualified for the NAIA National Championship later this month in Silvis, Ill. at TPC Deere Run Golf Course.
Franco is pacing the navy and gold with a 78.5 stroke average in 20 rounds of competition. She has been in the 60s or 70s on 12 occasions with a season low of 68 at the Northwest Iowa National Invitational on September 20. The freshman has two individual titles to her credit along with four other top-10 efforts.
Franco was a two-time Heart Player of the Week this year.
Entering nationals, Frayne owns an 83.2 stroke average (22 rounds) with four rounds in the 70s. Her low score of 77 came at the Northwest Iowa National Invitational on September 19. She has five top-10 performances this year.
Jackson is currently averaging 82.3 strokes over the span of her 22-round campaign. The senior has been in the 70s four times with a low of 76 at the William Penn Mike “Fluff” Cowan Invitational on April 17. The winner of one tournament crown, Jackson has six top-10 placings.
Lange enters the NAIA National Championship with a 79.4 stroke average (22 rounds), including 12 rounds in the 70s. Her low of 71 came at the Iowa Wesleyan Invitational on September 29. She has two tournament wins and seven total top-10 performances this year.
Mia Tovkach of Baker was chosen as Heart Player of the Year.
