Statesmen Grouped with Faulkner, Taylor in Opening Rounds of Nationals
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–The William Penn women’s golf team will bring the most experience in its group as the pairings for the 23rd NAIA National Championships were announced Friday.
#24 nationally-ranked WPU is making its fourth-ever trip to nationals (fourth straight) which will be held Tuesday-Friday, May 23-26 at PGA National Golf Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
For the first two rounds, the Statesmen will be paired with #17 Faulkner (Ala.) and unranked Taylor (Ind.), both of which earned their first berths in program history. The squads will open nationals by teeing off on Hole #1 at 1:45 p.m. (Eastern). The trio will then return to action Wednesday morning at 9 a.m., teeing off on Hole #10.
William Penn, which won last week’s Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships, owns a current team average of 313.7 (low of 302–tied school record). Elise Warne (So., Melbourne, Australia, Exercise Science) is 38th in GolfStat’s rankings with a 78.29 stroke average (GolfStat average). Courtney Cunningham (Sr., Muskogee, Okla., Computer Science) is next in 53rd (79.05), while Jodi Saito (Sr., Mililani, Hawaii, Education) (69th, 79.87), Helene Larsen (So., Viborg, Denmark, Business Management) (79th, 80.50), and Miranda Keeler (Jr., Plattsmouth, Neb., Communications) (84th, 80.63) are also in GolfStat’s top 100.
The Statesmen won seven tournament titles and are rated #25 in GolfStat.
Faulkner, coached by Brooke Fuller, placed third at the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament, but still earned an at-large bid. Three players rank in GolfStat’s top 100, headlined by Hannah Sager in 10th at 76.17. Anna Reid (15th, 76.67) and Hali Lyle (92nd, 80.89) are in the rating as well. The Eagles, who are rated #18 in the GolfStat’s ranking, won three tourney crowns, including twice going under 300 (low of 294–school record).
Taylor, coached by Cameron Andry, are #47 in GolfStat’s rankings and earned an automatic bid to nationals by winning the Crossroads League Tournament crown. Maddie Thomas is pacing TU with an 81.00 scoring average, ranking 95th in the GolfStat rating. The Trojans won four tournaments this year and carded scores of 320 or lower five times with a season-best 299.
It will be the first time William Penn will see either team this season.
