Statesmen Take Runner-Up Honors at Bethany Classic

Newton, Kan.--Three top-10 finishers helped the William Penn women's golf team to a silver as it competed at the Bethany Classic Monday and Tuesday.

WPU placed second out of six teams with a two-round score of 635 (311-324) at the par-72 Sand Creek Station Golf Course.  NCAA Division II UT Texas held off the Statesmen for the team crown at 629 (309-320).

UT Dallas also won the individual medalist laurel as Sofia Trevino shot even-par 142 (70-74).

Gabriana Franco (Jr., Tracy, Calif., Exercise Science) was Trevino's closest competition in the 36-player field, taking second at 149 (71-78).

Olivia Lange (Sr., Buckeburg, Germany, Business Management) claimed a top-five placing as well, ending up fourth at 153 (73-80), while Bliss Martin (Jr., Hamilton, Ill., Biology) tied for ninth at 163 (83-80).

Emma Lawson (Sr., Rossville, Ind., Exercise Science), in a tie for 15th at 170 (84-86), and Riley Burns (Sr., Edwardsville, Ill., Elementary Education), in 22nd at 175 (88-87), also swung their sticks for the navy and gold.

"Our ladies really battled hard and went toe-to-toe with a very good UT Dallas squad," Head Coach Darin Fisher said.  "Gabriana Franco and Olivia Lange paced the team on the first day with some fantastic play.  We stayed tight with them the second day, but could not take advantage of the opportunities we had as the chaser.  With three players in the top 10, we really had a chance to win the event."

"We will need to learn from this experience and have a couple great days of practice as we prepare for our next tournament," Fisher added.

Next Up: William Penn wraps up its regular season next Monday and Tuesday as it travels to Iowa City to compete in the Mount Mercy Invitational.  Play will be contested at Finkbine Golf Course.