William Penn Defends Home Turf Again
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–The Statesmen women’s golf team has a tendency to walk off with the biggest trophy at most tournaments. That is especially true at home and Monday was another example of that dominance as William Penn won the Mike “Fluff” Cowan Invitational.
#16 WPU was first out of three teams with a two-round score of 622 (319-303) at the par-71 Edmundson Golf Course. Mount Mercy, which is unofficially 34th in the NAIA, was a distant second at 672 (337-335).
The program’s home course supremacy has been showcased for the past five years. The Statesmen have now won 11 consecutive titles in Oskaloosa, dating back to the Statesmen Shootout on April 1, 2014.
The event was a great final tune-up for William Penn as it travels to Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. next Tuesday through Thursday to compete for a league title at the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships. Play will be contested at Osage National Golf Course.
Windy conditions elevated scores a bit on Monday, but the navy and golf varsity still took care of business as the six individuals on the crew coveted every position at the top of the 19-person individual standings.
Alexis Guimaraes (Jr., San Ramon, Calif., Psychology) carded a respectable 80 for the first 18 holes, but then shaved off five strokes in the second 18 to match the low round of the tournament and claim the medalist honor at 155.
Elise Warne (Sr., Melbourne, Australia, Exercise Science) was just one shot behind her teammate at 156 (81-75), while Bailee Frayne (Fr., Garner, Iowa, Elementary Education) was one stroke behind Warne in third at 157 (82-75).
Brittany Evans (Jr., Fernley, Nev., Business Management) took fourth at 159 (81-78), while first-round leader Deanna Peiffer (Jr., Washington, Iowa, Public Accounting) finished fifth at 162 (77-85).
Megan Rhoads (Sr., Schertz, Texas, Psychology) rounded out the varsity in sixth at 163 (81-82).
WPU’s varsity reserve team was in action as well, taking third at 694 (351-343). Julia Hippely (Fr., Huron, Ohio, General Accounting) topped the squad as she ended up ninth at 168 (86-82).
Madison Lantz (So., Corona, Calif., Psychology and Human Services) finished 12th overall at 173 (87-86), while Tiffany Duhon (Sr., Lafayette, La, Elementary Education) was 13th at 178 (93-85). Katrina Estes (So., Paw Paw, Mich., Biology), at 180 (90-90), took 14th in the event.
Sofie Lund (Sr., Herning, Denmark, Industrial Technology) shot an 88 in the first round, but unfortunately had to withdraw from the second round due to injury.
