Warne, Rhoads Share POY Laurel, Pierson Chosen as COY
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–Six members of the Statesmen women’s golf program, as well as their coach, were recognized for exceptional seasons as the 2018 all-Heart of America Athletic Conference teams were announced Tuesday.
Brittany Evans (So., Fernley, Nev., Business Management), Brooke Fletcher (Sr., Atlantic, Iowa, Business Management), Alexis Guimaraes (So., San Ramon, Calif., Psychology), Helene Larsen (Jr., Viborg, Denmark, Business Management), Megan Rhoads (Jr., Schertz, Texas, Psychology), and Elise Warne (Jr., Melbourne, Australia, Exercise Science) were all named to the 15-person squad.
The honor is the second for each individual, except for Warne who now has three all-Heart accolades.
Rhoads and Warne also headlined the team as Co-Heart Players of the Year. The award is the second for Warne.
Head Coach Chris Pierson was named Heart Coach of the Year as well for his team’s accomplishments in his first year at the helm. The navy and gold claimed six tournament wins, including this week’s Heart Championships which gave WPU a three-event winning streak entering nationals. William Penn owned a 314.8 scoring average over 20 rounds with a school-record round of 298 last month.
It marks the fifth-consecutive year in which WPU has won both the POY and COY laurels.
Rhoads enters nationals with a 78.6 stroke average in 20 rounds. She has carded 14 rounds in the 70s with a low of 74. The junior has two tournament wins and has been in the top 10 on seven occasions. The four-time Heart Player of the Week has not placed lower than 19th all season.
Warne battled through some late-season injuries to once again be the best linkster in the conference. She owns a 78.6 average in 16 rounds with a low of 72. The junior has managed nine rounds in the 70s, has claimed two tournament victories, and has six top-10 finishes. Warne is a two-time POW recipient and has not placed lower than 20th this year.
Larsen’s scoring average over 20 rounds is 79.1, highlighted by 11 rounds in the 70s (low of 72). The junior has one event win alongside seven top-10 finishes. She was also a one-time Heart POW.
Evans is thus far posting a 79.9 average (20 rounds) with a low round of 74; she has eight rounds under 80 this season. The sophomore, who is a one-time Heart POW, has one win and seven top-10 placings.
Fletcher’s 83.2 scoring average is over 18 rounds of competition. The senior has recorded five rounds in the 70s with a low of 77. She has tallied four top-10 finishes.
Guimaraes is averaging 82.3 strokes per round over 17 rounds with a low of 72 (three rounds in the 70s). A six-time top-10 placer, the sophomore has collected one Heart POW honor.
