Central opens with second-place women’s golf finish
Central Dutch Athletics
MARION—It was an encouraging start for the Central College women’s golf team. with a second-place finish at the Mount Mercy Early Bird Classic Sunday.
Just three teams were in the field, but the Dutch improved by two shots over a year ago when they took first out of six teams. Central carded a 336, 16 shots behind host Mount Mercy University. Clarke University was third. Mount Mercy bolstered its roster, coach Tim Wilkinson said, and cut 24 shots off its score from a year ago.
Complete results were not yet available.
Central’s three-time conference placewinner Brittany Coppess (senior, Clinton) fired an 81, matching her score from a year ago. Emily Opsal (junior, Verona, Wisconsin) followed with 82, Lexie Patton (junior, Aurelia, Alta-Aurelia HS) shot 85, freshman Rachel Danielson (Jefferson, Greene County HS) debuted with 88 and freshman Sabrina Reed (Prairie City, Prairie City-Monroe HS) shot 96.
“It’s about where I thought we’d be,” Wilkinson said. “For a couple players it was their first time seeing the course and Hunter’s Ridge is not an easy course by any means. And it was our first tournament so there were a few jitters as we’re just getting back to competitive golf.
“I was pretty pleased. It gives everybody a reality check and lets us know what we need to work on.”
Coppess continues to be the team leader, Wilkinson said.
“Brittany got off to a rough start but she had a 38 on the back nine,” he said.
Wilkinson said it’s evident the Dutch will get some help from Danielson and Reed in their rookie years.
“Rachel (Danielson) played pretty well for her first college tournament,” he said.
Central also had three individuals compete at-large. Stacy Mohr (junior, Sigourney) turned in a 99, Mollie Abkes (freshman, Ackley, AGWSR HS) had 108 and Kirsten Dean (freshman, Round Lake Beach, Illinois, Grayslake North HS) shot 135.
The Dutch travel to Cedar Falls for the Sail Classic Saturday and Sunday at the par-72 Pheasant Ridge Golf Course, site of the first two rounds of the American Rivers Conference tournament Sept. 29-30. Central was second in a 10-team field at last year’s Sail Classic and Wilkinson expects a similar field, including most of the conference schools.
“Next week at Pheasant Ridge we’ll hopefully lower our scores and build some confidence because it’s an easier course,” Wilkinson said. “And it will give our new players a chance to see that course for the first time.”
