Statesmen Close Fall with Fourth-Place Finish

Smithville, Mo.--The William Penn women's golf team wrapped up its fall campaign by taking on both the league tourney venue and the wind as it competed in the Heart Preview Monday and Tuesday.

WPU ended up fourth out of 10 teams with a two-round score of 718 (362-356) at the par-72 Paradise Pointe Golf Course.  Mount Mercy claimed the team crown at 670 (332-338).

Paradise Pointe is the site of next April's Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships, the national-qualifying event.

Individually, Chiara Bothe of Mount Mercy won the medalist honor at 153 (74-79).

Both days featured windy conditions that forced scores upwards.  Gabriana Franco (Sr., Tracy, Calif., Exercise Science) paced the navy and gold in seventh place at 166 (80-86).  The senior recorded two birdies at the Preview.

Chloe Jacques (Fr., Chatham, Ontario, Political Science) was next, placing 12th at 172 (84-88), while Amelia Meador (Jr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Kinesiology) also finished in the top 20 in 20th at 184 (92-92).

Mallary Johnson (Jr., Olds, Iowa, General Accounting), in a tie for 34th at 196 (106-90), and Olivia Quail (Fr., South Lyon, Mich., Sports Management), in 47th at 211 (106-105), completed the team scoring.

"The wind really posed a significant challenge when it came to lower scores," Head Coach Darin Fisher said.  "We continue to dig ourselves into a hole with unforced errors.  I think we have a real chance to compete at the conference championships next spring, but we need to sharpen things up, work really hard in the offseason, and be prepared for the challenge."