Central, Coppess tied for league women’s golf lead
Central Dutch Athletics
DECORAH—Brittany Coppess (senior, Clinton) surged into a share of first place with a 75 and the Central College women’s golf team is tied for the lead for the American Rivers Conference team title as well heading into the 72-hole tournament’s final day.
Central started Saturday’s third round clinging to a one-stroke lead over the University of Dubuque but after some back-nine Dutch misfortune, the teams are tied. Central has 327-321-332—980 while Dubuque has 327-322-331—980. Defending champion Wartburg College had the day’s best round and stands third at 336-335-329—1000 with Luther College at 335-338-342—1015. This weekend’s action is at the par-72 Oneota Golf and Country Club after two rounds last week at the Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls.
Coppess has 80-76-75—231, matching Dubuque’s Daniela Miranda who shot 74-80-77—231.
“Brittany missed a couple of birdie chances she’d like to have back but she was able to play through it,” coach Tim Wilkinson said. “It was a great performance and a great effort.”
Last year’s medalist, Wartburg’s Brooke Klosterman, is five shots back in third at 77-78-81—236. Central’s Emily Opsal (junior, Verona, Wis., Verona HS) slipped to fourth in the 40-player field at 78-77-86—241 while Lexie Patton (junior, Aurelia, Alta-Aurelia HS) is tied for ninth at 86-78-86—250 and Rachel Danielson (freshman, Jefferson, Greene County HS) is 16th at 83-90-85–258. Stacy Mohr (junior, Sigourney), who took over at the No. 5 spot for Central this weekend, shot 90.
“It was a tough day,” Wilkinson said. “It was exhausting for some of them who weren’t playing as well as they would have liked. When you have to grind it out, it takes a lot out of you.”
Yet the Dutch are in position to challenge for their first league title since 2016. They’ve captured nine overall. The tournament champion receives an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Championships May 14-17 at Bay Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas.
“We have to keep the big numbers off the scorecard,” Wilkinson said. “When conditions are like this, you can have a few bogeys. But we have to stay in the moment and not worry about the results. If we focus on the process, the results will come.”
