Central women's golfers climb into tie for fifth at Wartburg

Central women's golfers climb into tie for fifth at Wartburg
RESULTS

WAVERLY- Flashing some promise for the road ahead, the Central College women's golf team jumped into a tie for fifth at the 36-hole, 16-team Wartburg Fall Invitational Sunday.

The Dutch were part of a four-way logjam in seventh after Saturday's round but closed at 320-316-636 to match tourney host Wartburg College, which shot 316-320-636 at the par-72 Prairie Links Golf Course.

Grinnell College, ranked No. 23 in the WGCA Division III coaches poll, outdueled Bethel University (Minn.) to take the top spot at 296-298-594 to 298-299-597. Wisconsin-Stout was third at 315-303-618 and the University of Dubuque was the top American Rivers finisher, shooting 308-320-628.

"The conditions were quite a bit tougher," coach Tabitha Schumacher said. "It wasn't blowing as much as it can out there but it was blowing considerably harder than yesterday. So I feel like having three scores in the 70s with that is pretty good.

"You can get in trouble out there and hit it to a spot you don't want to be in. And on the back nine, there were a lot of back pins which you didn't necessarily want to attack. I feel like the team did a good job of playing smart on those holes and attacking the ones they could."

Lydia Grond (senior, Hull, Boyden-Hull HS) inched into the top 20, shooting 78-77-155 to tie for 17th place.

"She's hitting a lot of greens but she's still a little frustrated because not all of the putts are dropping," Schumacher said. "So I feel like she's in a spot where she could easily be scoring lower with the way she's hitting it, which is exciting."

Freshman Amber Timmer (freshman, San Diego, Calif., Mount Carmel HS) also improved with 80-77-157 to share 21st place. Parker Stout (senior, Lowden, North Cedar HS) shot 80-79-159 while Allie Pfantz (freshman, State Center, West Marshall HS) shot 82-85-167 and Jaden Smith (junior, Marengo, Iowa Valley HS) shot 87-83-170

Central's second unit had 352-350-702 and finished 16th. Natalia Quella (freshman, Neenah, Wis.) shot 81-89-170 and Mickey Martens (sophomore, Villa Park, Ill., Willowbrook HS) had 84-86-170.
Grinnell's Meilin Hoshino carded an even-par 70-74--144 to take medalist honors.

Central sees an uptick in the competition level at the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational next Saturday and Sunday at the par-72 Ironwood Golf Course in Normal, Illinois. Host Illinois Wesleyan University is rated No. 8 in Division III. The Dutch were 12th in a strong 19-team field there last year.

The tourney will feature a unique format as teams will field six-player lineups instead of five, with the low four scores each day counting towards the team total.

"That changes things a little bit," Schumacher said. "It's not something we're used to but we're excited. It's a much different course than what we saw in Waverly."

The Prairie Links course is almost void of trees while Ironwood is heavily wooded.

"It's one of those courses where you've got to play smart and pick your battles on where you want to attack," Schumacher said.

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