Central College women’s golf outlook

Central College

It’s the second season at Central College for women’s golf coach Tim Wilkinson, but the first time his team will be at full strength.

All-America performer Sarah Paulson, a two-time Iowa Conference player of the year, suffered a knee injury playing basketball in 2009, causing her to miss the 2010 spring golf campaign. Then she was in Europe in the fall through Central College Abroad.

Paulson finally returned last spring, but then the Dutch were without one of their top players from the fall season, Kaurie Kincaid, due to a back injury.

Wilkinson’s club compensated well, winning two fall tournaments and finishing second at the Iowa Conference meet. The Dutch have even loftier goals for 2011-12.

“Expectations are going to be different,” Wilkinson said. “Last year, expectations were pretty low from the outside, because people knew we didn’t have everyone. But this year, I think some people expect us to compete for first. Obviously, Wartburg will be strong and it will take a tremendous team effort to compete with them. We can’t get by with just Sarah playing well.”

Paulson steadily regained her form in the spring after a 17-month layoff, as she pushed her average down to 83.3. Look for even better numbers in the fall. In her freshman year her fall mark was 79.2 and that dropped to 76.7 the following autumn.

“The important thing with Sarah is she’s very determined,” Wilkinson said. “She was a little disappointed in how she played last spring. She finished well and her average was good enough to be number one in the conference most years, but for her, that wasn’t good enough. She’s got her focus on getting where she was before.”

Before includes a sixth-place finish as a freshman at the NCAA Division III championships.

“She has to have her sights set on really getting into top form,” said Wilkinson, noting that will help improve more than Paulson’s score.

“When the rest of the team sees that determination and drive, it’s going to rub off on them,” he said.

Kincaid, now a junior, and senior Ali Miller shared top team honors most of last fall. Miller was the surprise leader at the midpoint of the 72-hole conference tournament and eventually finished sixth, with Kincaid eighth, both receiving all-conference distinction. Kincaid averaged 87.5 for the season with Miller at 87.8.

“Kaurie’s had two springs off but now has an opportunity to get back into it,” Wilkinson said. “It was tough for her being hurt. But I think she can get back to where she was and then take that next step.”

Miller’s progress was remarkable. She averaged 101.6 in the fall of her freshman year in 2008, then sliced nearly 14 shots off that last year.

“Ali struggled a little early in the spring,” Wilkinson said. “She was our No. 1 and she wasn’t used to playing that position. But she adjusted to that and this year I think she can get into the top 10-15 at every tournament.

“Having Sarah back will help both Kaurie and Ali. That will take a little of the pressure off so they can play relaxed and enjoy what they’re doing.”

Junior Ashley Smith should be a fixture in the top four as well. She tied for fourth at the Loras Invitational and was 16th at the league tourney, averaging 91.7 for the fall campaign. She missed the spring season while studying in Europe.

“Ashley really played well in the last two rounds of the conference tournament,” Wilkinson said. “I hope she’s right there with Kaurie and Ali in terms of scoring and being competitive.”

But the key to the season may be the No. 5 player, even though only the best four scores are counted in each tournament.

“People forget that dropped score counts in the Golfstat rankings,” said Wilkinson, noting that the rankings help determine NCAA tourney qualifiers. “That fifth score is not just a throwaway. And if we have a good No. 5 player, that also takes a little pressure off the other players, knowing that they don’t have to worry that their score will have to be one that counts every time out.”

Juniors Jessica Shiner and Chrissy Lee are top candidates, although their varsity experience is limited.

“Jessica dropped 20 strokes last year,” Wilkinson said. “If she continues to see improvement, she could be in the mix. Chrissy could also, depending on how she comes into the fall season.”

Wilkinson will give freshmen a shot as well. Kelsey Van Tasell of Pella and Leah Hilpipre of Spirit Lake were both state high school qualifiers.

Putting it all together is a challenge, but one the Dutch are ready to tackle.

“We’re all looking forward to it,” Wilkinson said. “The fact that the players are excited about the fall is the most important component to our future success. It will make going through practice and all the work we’ll be doing much easier.”

The team’s traditional season-opening tournament, the Central Invitational, was moved to Sept. 23-24 this year, in hopes of attracting a stronger field. The season instead kicks off at the Buena Vista Invitational at Storm Lake Sept. 2-3.