Marion--In the program's first competition since the 2000-2001 school year, the Penn women's golf team competed at the Mount Mercy Fall Invitational Friday.

The Lady Statesmen finished 12th out of 12 teams with a score of 452 at the par-72 Hunters Ridge Golf Course. St. Ambrose claimed the team title with a score of 334, while Simpson was a distant second at 357.

St. Ambrose's Kelly Jansen won the individual medalist honor with a score of four-over 76, five shots ahead of the next closest competitor.

All was not lost for Penn in the season opener, though, as Dena Hugen (So., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) brought home a top-ten finish, tying for seventh with a score of 87.

Mayci Rule (Fr., Idaho Falls, Idaho, Skyline HS) also just missed cracking the top 20 as she tied for 21st with a 93. Kolby Baetsle (Jr., Fremont, Sigourney HS) was next in 60th place with a 113, while Janna Carson (Jr., Idaho Falls, Idaho, Bonneville HS) concluded the team's scoring in 68th place with a 159.

Next: Penn has a week off before competing in the Central Fall Invitational on Friday and Saturday, September 12-13. Friday's round will be played at Bos Landen Golf Resort in Pella, while the second round will feel like a home tournament for the Lady Statesmen as it is contested at Edmundson Golf Course in Oskaloosa.