Central eyes NCAA women’s golf cut line
Central Dutch Athletics
HOUSTON, TEXAS—A pivotal third round looms ahead for the Central College women’s golf team at the NCAA Division III Championship.
The back nine was not kind to the Dutch in Wednesday’s second round at the 5,889-yard, par-72 Bay Oaks Country Club. After a strong opening nine, Central slipped two spots to 19th in the elite 25-team field at 336-341—677 after 36 holes, putting the squad in a tough spot. Following Thursday’s third round, the field will be cut to the top 15 teams and the top six individuals on non-qualifying teams for Friday’s finish of the 72-hole tournament.
Illinois Wesleyan is 15th after Wednesday at 339-320—659, 18 shots ahead of the Dutch. New York University leads the tournament at 311-302—613.
American Rivers MVP Brittany Coppess (senior, Clinton) remains in the hunt for an individual spot in Friday’s final round if the Dutch fail to qualify as a team. She was tied for sixth after an opening-round 75, came back with 78 for 153 and is tied for 15th. She’s four shots out of the lead which is shared by Emily Salamy of Rhodes (Tenn.), Nina Kouchi of Grinnell and Zyi Wang of Carleton (Minn.) at 149. Coppess is third among players not on teams in the top 15, although those teams could change and thus alter which individuals are in the mix.
“There are some good teams that are not going to make the cut,” Wilkinson said. “So it’s difficult to predict.”
Emily Opsal (junior, Verona, Wis.) is tied for 60th at 77-85—172, Lexie Patton (junior, Aurelia, Alta-Aurelia HS) is tied for 105th at 89-91–180, Rachael Danielson (freshman, Jefferson, Greene County HS) is 108th at 95-87–182 and Stacy Mohr (junior, Sigourney) is 116th at 97-92–189. There are 131 players in the field.
“The first couple holes we were fairly solid but then we started to press a little bit,” coach Tim Wilkinson said. “Emily (Opsal) felt like she left some birdie putts onut there and a couple of the others felt like they couldn’t do anything right.”
Central had six birdies on the day, all on the front nine, including two each by Opsal and Mohr. Coppess birdied the second hole Wednesday and shot a 1-over-par 37 on the front but was hurt by a double bogey at No. 10 and carded a 41 on the back nine. Her teammates also struggled on the back with Opsal at 41-44, Danielson at 42-45, Patton at 42-49 and Mohr at 43-49. The five Dutch played the 340-yard par-4 10th hole in a combined 7-over par and played the 350-yard par-4 17th hole in 8-over.
“There are four holes (on the back nine) that are pretty challenging,” Wilkinson said. “They all involve water.”
But he’s is confident that Dutch will come back strong Thursday.
“For us the goal is to come out and play as good as we can and give ourselves a shot,” he said.
In its only previous NCAA tourney appearance, Central was 16th after three days in 2017, missing the cut by 12 shots.
