WPU Returns to Top of League, Lange Wins Individual Crown

Overland Park, Kan.--The Statesmen women's golf team captured the lead midway through the second round and did not relinquish it in collecting the 2025 Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship title Monday and Tuesday.

William Penn finished first out 10 teams with a three-round score of 980 (323-322-325) at the par-72 Nicklaus Golf Club.  Baker, which led after the first 18 holes, was second at 991 (319-328-344).

WPU's league title is its ninth in program history and the seventh since joining the Heart during the 2014-2015 season.  The navy and gold won crowns in 2022 and 2023, but finished second a year ago.

The Statesmen will now face off against the nation's best at the 30th Annual NAIA National Championship from May 13-16 at the Eagle Crest Golf Club in Ypsilanti, Mich.

Guiding the way in the 48-player field was individual medalist Olivia Lange (Sr., Porta Westfalica, Germany, Business Management) who topped the leaderboard at 229 (76-74-79).  The senior, who is WPU's fifth conference champion all-time, tallied eight birdies, but none bigger than her last one.

Lange claimed the lead in the second round and stayed in front until the very end.  She did stumble a bit down the stretch, opening the door for Park's Anna Korsen who stormed ahead entering the final hole of the tournament.  Fortunately, Lange went back on top in the end as Korsen bogeyed, while Lange buried a lengthy birdie putt on the 18th green for the victory.

Gabriana Franco (Jr., Tracy, Calif., Exercise Science) was next for William Penn, tying for sixth at 247 (81-81-85), while Emma Lawson (Sr., Rossville, Ind., Exercise Science) just finished outside the top 10 in 11th at 251 (83-81-87).

Bliss Martin (Jr., Hamilton, Ill., Biology), in a tie for 15th at 258 (83-91-84), and Riley Burns (Sr., Edwardsville, Ill., Elementary Education), in 18th at 259 (84-86-89), rounded out the Statesmen scoring with top-20 placings.

"I am incredibly proud of this team," Head Coach Darin Fisher said.  "They put in countless hours in the offseason and had a great spring.  They were rewarded today for all of those efforts.  We dug ourselves a little hole on Monday, but we recovered and grabbed the lead.  After a shaky start to Tuesday, we settled in and finished it off.  Earning a trip to nationals is something we have talked a lot about, and now we get to realize that dream."

"I could not be more happy for Olivia," Fisher added.  "She fought hard and overcame some adversity at the end with a gritty final hole.  In my entire career, I do not think I have witnessed a more clutch putt than the one she made on the 18th to win."