Statesmen Conclude Nationals in 15th Place
William Penn Women’s Athletics
Lincoln, Neb.–Demi Coertze (So., Johannesburg, South Africa, Digital Communication) almost posted her first career ‘red’ number with a near school record as the William Penn women’s golf team wrapped up its first appearance at the NAIA Women’s Golf National Championships Friday.
The Statesmen posted a 328 (+40 over par) to place 15th out of 27 teams at the par-72 Wilderness Ridge Golf Course. WPU finished the four-day event at 1,301 (+149) (331-327-315-328).
Entering the final day tied for first, #1 SCAD Savannah (Ga.) and #2 Oklahoma City had a finish that only Hollywood could write. Down five strokes stepping onto the 18th tee, OKC went four under while SCAD finished one over to force a one-hole playoff on Hole #1 as both teams were at 1,209. The Stars finished off the incredible comeback by going one under as a squad, while the Bees were one over.
OKC had the better of SCAD in the team race, but the Bees won the individual battle as Alazne Urizar held off the Stars’ Elia Folch by one stroke for the individual title. Urizar tallied a three-over 291 (76-71-73-71).
WPU started Friday in a tie for 13th and stayed high on the leaderboard with help from a career-best round by Coertze. The sophomore managed 15 pars, two bogeys, and one birdie for a one-over 73 that was one off the program record. Coertze improved every round, tying for 22nd overall at 310 (+22) (82-80-75-73).
Maggie Yang (Jr., Chino, Calif., Business Management) was next for the Statesmen, shooting an 82 to tie for 45th at 319 (+31) (80-81-76-82). Her final round was a mishmash of good and not-so-good holes with three birdies and three multiple bogeys.
Jing Yang (Fr., Woodland Hills, Calif., Biology) had an 86, while Alexandria Eckenrod (Jr., Mason City, Iowa, Elementary Education) managed an 87. Courtney Cunningham (Fr., Muskogee, Okla., Computer Science) concluded the team’s scoring at 88. Yang and Cunningham each recorded a birdie on Friday.
Yang finished her tournament experience in a tie for 66th at 335 (+47) (84-84-81-86), while Eckenrod was just one shot behind her at 336 (+48) (86-84-84-82) to tie for 69th. Cunningham placed 78th in the 144-person field at 343 (+55) (85-85-85-88).
“This entire week was a great experience,” Head Coach Nik Rule said. “We needed this for our program as we continue to work toward an even brighter future. We showed everyone in the nation that William Penn Women’s Golf is a legit national contender.”
“I am so proud of this team and the hard work our players have put in all year,” Rule added. “This was the perfect ending to a season that will go down as the most successful in program history.”
