Statesmen Cruise to 1-2 Finish at Home
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–The William Penn women’s golf team has dominated at its home course recently and this weekend was no exception as the Statesmen claimed the title at the Mike “Fluff” Cowan Intercollegiate Sunday and Monday.
Not even a brutal wind, which gusted above 40 miles per hour on the first day, could slow down #20 WPU as it was first out of 10 teams with a two-day tally of 663 (342-321) at the par-72 Edmundson Golf Course. The program’s varsity reserve squad was second at 672 (348-324), while NCAA Division II Truman (Mo.) was a distant third at 690.
William Penn has now secured four event titles this year. It is also the squad’s fourth-consecutive win at Edmundson Golf Course.
Brooke Fletcher (So., Atlantic, Iowa, Business Management) of WPU’s second team was tournament medalist of the 55-player event at 161 (81-80). It is her first collegiate crown.
“Brooke was awesome!” Head Coach Nik Rule said. “We believe in her ability, but she has needed to believe in herself and we had a conversation about that with her this week. I think this individual title is proof that she is as good as we think she is. This likely proves it to the person who needed it the most–herself.”
The Statesmen varsity was an incredibly balanced crew, separated by just three strokes. Elise Warne (Fr., Melbourne, Australia, Exercise Science) was on top, tying for second at 163 (85-78), while Miranda Keeler (So., Plattsmouth, Neb., Communications) was also in the top five, tying for fourth at 167 (81-86).
“Elise and Miranda provided a lot for us to be happy about as well, making the all-tournament team,” Rule said. “Elise is really starting to understand what it takes to win golf tournaments and Miranda continues to learn how to grind when things may not be going exactly according to plan.”
Helene Larsen (Fr., Viborg, Denmark, Business Management), who tied for seventh (90-79–169), and Demi Coertze (Sr., Johannesburg, South Africa, Digital Communication) (90-80–170) and Jing Yang (Sr., Woodland Hills, Calif., Biology) (86-84–170), who both tied for ninth, finished in the top 10 as well.
In addition to Fletcher’s championship, the VR group placed all five of its linksters in the first 15. Courtney Cunningham (Jr., Muskogee, Okla., Computer Science) was 12th at 171 (91-80), Jodi Saito (Jr., Mililani, Hawaii, Education) tied for 13th at 172 (89-83), Natalie Booton (Sr., Mount Pleasant, Elementary Education) also tied for 13th (91-81), and Megan Rhoads (Fr., Schertz, Texas, Psychology) was 15th at 173 (87-86).
A third William Penn team hit the course at the Intercollegiate as the ‘C’ squad was eighth at 758 (387-371). Alyssa Kerry (Fr., Bend, Ore., Communications) was at the head of the class in 23rd at 181 (92-89), while Jordan Postma (So., Marion, Iowa, Biology) (T-27th, 93-91–184) and Aramina Flores (So., Corpus Christi, Texas, History/Government) (46th, 99-103–202) also completed both rounds. Sofie Lund (Fr., Herning, Denmark, Psychology) recorded an 88 in the second round (withdrew on Sunday), while Tiffany Duhon (Fr., Lafayette, La, Elementary Education) carded a 103 in the first round (withdrew on Monday).
“I have never been a part of a collegiate golf tournament with wind like that,” Rule said. “It was tough, and although it was better on the second day, the entire event was a challenge against Mother Nature.”
“We wanted to defend our home turf and a 1-2 finish did that,” Rule added. “A big thank you to Matt Sherlock and Jeff Smith at Edmundson Golf Course who we proudly partner with every year; it would not be home without their support.”
Next Up: William Penn travels to Nebraska City, Neb. next Monday and Tuesday to compete in the Peru State Invitational. The host venue of Table Creek Golf Course is the same location of next month’s Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships.
