Yang, Team Break More Records as WPU Wins Third-Straight Event
In winning its third title in a row, William Penn tied its 18-hole record and broke its 36-hole record (photo submitted)
Moravia–The Lady Statesmen golf squad led off the spring just as it finished the fall by claiming yet another title, this time crushing the field at its own Iowa Intercollegiate Championships Saturday and Sunday.
William Penn was first out of five squads with a two-day tally of 650 (325-325) at the par-72 Preserve Golf Course. Fellow MCC program AIB was a distant second, 71 strokes back at 721 (367-354). The title is the team’s third this year, all in a row dating back to last fall.
“We are happy with how we played,” Head Coach Nik Rule said. “We have known that we can put two rounds like this together all year, and now accomplishing it provides for a nice confidence boost. The Preserve is a legit championship golf course. It is very challenging and plays long, but we handled it well. We battled and produced results.”
Maggie Yang (Fr., Chino, Calif., Diamond Bar HS) was equally dominant on the individual level, winning medalist honors by ten strokes at 151 (76-75). It is her second-straight crown and she did it in record-breaking fashion.
The freshman snapped both the 18-hole mark (she shared that with teammate Dena Stevens at 76) and the 36-hole total (hers at 157).
On the team end, William Penn’s pair of 325’s tie the school single-round record from last fall, while the two-day score of 650 destroys the old mark, again set last fall, by 11 strokes.
Mayci Rule (So., Idaho Falls, Idaho, Skyline HS) and Courtney Kronmuller (Jr., Fountain Valley, Calif., Fullerton CC) joined Yang in the top five, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
Rule went 82-82 for a 164, while Kronmuller had one stroke more at 165 (85-80). The junior’s five-stroke improvement was nice, but it was all set up by a tremendous front side from the first day.
Kronmuller started Saturday by carding a 51 on the back side, but dominated the front with a 34, tying Stevens’ nine-hole record from back in 2008.
Dena Stevens (Sr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) placed eighth at 170 (82-88), while Ashley Manhnieo (Fr., Las Vegas, Nev., Olathe Northwest HS) rounded out the varsity scoring at 177 (86-91) to place 11th.
Presley Joss (Jr., Osceola, Clarke HS) and Aubrey Leasure (Sr., St. Peter, Minn., St. Peter HS) also competed as individuals. They tied for 28th at 208 as Joss went 107-101 and Leasure went 103-105.
“I am so proud of this group and how they continue to be a perfect example of a united team,” Rule said. “It is a contagious atmosphere. They have fun, they work hard, they are dedicated, and because of that, we are tasting success. With that, they know not to take it for granted and they will continue to stay strong.”
Rule credited the weekend’s title to several things, including an intense midseason workout routine.
“We worked very hard this winter, increasing our flexibility and getting in good athletic shape, and it paid off,” Rule said. “This was our first tournament of the spring season and our girls seem to already be in midseason form. We will savor this win, but as I told them after the trophy ceremony, come tomorrow this is all behind us and we will look forward to the next task at hand.”
Next: William Penn takes a week off before traveling to Riverside to compete in the Ashford Spring Invitational on April 6-7. The tournament will be contested at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course, the host site of this year’s MCC Championships.
