WPU Earns Silver in Season’s First Tourney
William Penn Women’s Athletics
Marion–The William Penn women’s golf team was consistent, but could not parlay that into a season-opening title at the Mount Mercy Invitational.
The Statesmen tied for second out of 19 teams with a two-day score of 657 (324-333) at Hunter’s Ridge Golf Course. #20 Grand View rallied for the crown, slipping past the navy and gold by two strokes at 655 (332-323). Host Mount Mercy’s tournament-low 318 on Saturday helped it tie William Penn for second. #25 Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) was fourth, eight shots back of WPU and MMU.
Sydney Clement of Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) was the only player to break 80 in both rounds, winning medalist honors at 155 (76-79).
Two-time all-Midwest Collegiate Conference performer Maggie Yang (Jr., Chino, Calif., Biology) and newcomer Alexandria Eckenrod (Jr., Mason City, Iowa, Elementary Education) shot identical scores of 160 (77-83) to tie for fourth out of 107 players.
Demi Coertze (So., Johannesburg, South Africa, Digital Communication) was next by tying for 15th at 168 (85-83), while Ashley Manhnieo (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev., Business Management) carded 85 on both days to tie for 21st at 170.
Courtney Cunningham (Fr., Muskogee, Okla., Computer Science) rounded out the varsity in a tie for 35th at 179 (95-84).
Three individuals also competed for William Penn with Jing Yang (Fr., Woodland Hills, Calif., Biology) leading the trio in a tie for 23rd at 171 (88-83). Alexi Rule (Fr., Idaho Falls, Idaho, Education) was next in a tie for 40th at 181 (95-86), and Natalie Booton (So., Mount Pleasant, Elementary Education) posted a 183 (93-90) to tie for 47th.
“We entered the second day with an eight-stroke lead, but really struggled on the first two holes and had to regroup from that over the final 16 holes, but came up just short,” Head Coach Nik Rule said. “There are a lot of positives we can take from this weekend; we were the most consistent team this weekend, but were in need of some lower scores and those will come as we go along. With so much consistency, it poses a problem, but a good one as we need to make sure we put the best possible lineup out on the course that will help us win.”
“Every time we go out, we want to win,” Rule added. “We were in position to do that so that excites us. Having the top three teams this weekend being from our conference is great and will only help us in the national ratings.”
Next: William Penn travels to Detroit Lakes, Minn. next Saturday and Sunday to compete in the Concordia Invitational at Wildflower Golf Course.
