MORAVIA — The William Penn women’s golf team used five solid scores to overcome blustery conditions and a field gunning for it as it once again won the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship crown Monday and Tuesday.

The Statesmen finished first out of 11 teams with a three-round score of 982 (330-324-328) at The Preserve Golf Course, a par-72 track.  Grand View gave the navy and gold a fight, but eventually fell short to take second at 990 (330-327-333).

With the league championship victory–its second in a row and sixth in the last seven years (no tournament in 2020)–WPU has qualified for the NAIA National Championship.  The national event will be held May 23-26 in Silvis, Ill. at TPC Deere Run Golf Course.

With winds consistently blowing over 20 miles per hour (gusting upwards to 40 miles per hour), the navy and gold combined for 118 pars, 11 birdies, and one eagle.  The Statesmen ranked second on both par-3 (+38) and par-4 (+84) holes, but did their best on par-5 (+39) holes, shooting nine strokes better than the second-best squad.

Mia Tovkach of Baker (77-81-76) and Brooke Boardman of Grand View (78-80-76) tied atop the 59-player standings.  Tovkach will join William Penn at nationals as she defeated Boardman in a playoff.

All five Statesmen linksters finished in the top 16 with Olivia Lange (So., Buckeburg, Germany, Business Management) guiding the way in sixth at 241 (86-76-79).  She tied for first in the field with 30 pars, tied for second in par-5 scoring (+4), was fifth in par-4 scoring (+13), and tied for 14th in par-3 scoring (+8).

Courtney Jackson (Sr., Liberty Lake, Wash., Digital Communication) was next for William Penn, placing ninth at 247 (81-84-82).  The senior tied for fourth in both par-3 (+5) and par-5 (+5) scoring and tied for eighth in pars (25).

Gabriana Franco (Fr., Tracy, Calif., Exercise Science) finished in a tie for 11th at 249 (84-81-84).  One of only two players with an eagle, she tied for sixth in the league with four birdies.  The freshman also tied for 12th in par-3 scoring (+7), tied for 13th in par-4 scoring (+16), and tied for 16th in par-5 scoring (+10).

Jaclyn Wojciechowski (Sr., Graytown, Ohio, Business Management) came in 14th at the Championship with scores of 85-83-83 for a final tally of 251.  The senior tied for fifth in par-4 scoring (+13), tied for sixth with 26 pars, and tied for 14th in par-3 scoring (+14).

Carlee Frayne (Jr., Garner, Iowa, Sport Management), who rounded out the lineup in a tie for 16th at 253 (80-85-88), tied for sixth in par-5 scoring (+6).  She tied for ninth with three birdies and tied for 18th with 20 pars as well.

“The team played with some serious grit this week,” Head Coach Elise Warne said.  “We came into the week knowing we had a target on our back, but we were prepared for this course.  Unfortunately, the wind did not cooperate and made playing conditions very difficult.  The scores were high, but in the end, our players were able to grind out three rounds and outlast the competition.  We were challenged multiple times and stayed true to the gameplan.”

“Olivia Lange bounced back after a rocky start, while Courtney Jackson also showed her grit and consistency again,” Warne added.  “Our ladies played their hearts out for one another; we are so excited to go back to the national tournament once again.”