CAPE GIRARDEAU - The top-ranked Owls squeezed out a victory while the second-ranked Lady Owls coasted to a convincing win as the Challenge at Dalhousie wrapped up play Tuesday.
The championships were the first of the spring for both William Woods teams.
The William Woods University men defended their Challenge title by turning back the University of Mobile in a sudden-death playoff. The Owls accumulated a 3-over par 579 total (281-298). Meanwhile, the William Woods women - with all five golfers finishing in the top 10 - marched to a 41-stroke triumph over William Carey University. The Lady Owls recorded a 611 score (307-304).
Two sophomores - Billy McKenzie (69-72) and Matt Wells (72-69) - tied for second place with a pair of 141s to lead the William Woods men. Freshman Will Rushworth came in fourth with a 143 (73-70) and sophomore David Houlding took seventh with a 145 (70-75).
Freshman Alasdair McDougall - who on Wednesday was named the American Midwest Conference golfer of the week - tied for 15th place with a 149 (70-79). Senior Stan Gautier shared 15th with McDougall by also tallying a 149 (76-73).
Senior Julian Taylor rounded out the Owls' scoring in 20th place with a 150 (72-78).
In the women's division, junior Jodie Peacock paced William Woods by winning her first event of the season with an even-par 144 (75-69). Freshman Andrea Agniel followed Peacock by locking up second place with a 151 (74-77), while another freshman - Katie Warren - was fifth with a 157 (78-79).
Freshman Megan Cullen took seventh with a 160 (80-80) and junior Alejandra Ferrer came in ninth with a 163 (84-79).
The William Woods women compete Saturday and Sunday at the Washington University Invitational in Madison, Illinois.
The Owls and Lady Owls host their annual WWU Spring Invitational next Monday and Tuesday at Tanglewood Golf Course.