Central returns to WGCA academic top-25 list

PELLA- The Central College women’s golf team once again had a stellar year in the classroom, earning the No. 24 slot in the Women’s Golf Coaches Association’s Division III All-Scholar Team Award Top 25.

Coach Tabitha Schumacher’s squad posted a combined team grade point average of 3.634. Earlier, six Central players were tabbed as Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholars, which ranks tied for 10th among all U.S. colleges and universities.

The Dutch, who had six honorees last year as well, were led by Peyton Bytnar (senior, Bettendorf) who was cited for the fourth straight year Lydia Grond (junior, Hull, Boyden-Hull HS) and Rachel Sohn (senior, Sutherland, South O’Brien HS) were each honored for the third time and Avery Woods (junior, Long Grove, North Scott HS) is now a two-time pick. Also honored were Mackenzie Biggs (senior, Bloomington, Ill., Normal HS) and Mickey Martens (freshman, Villa Park, Ill., Willowbrook HS).

For selection, individual honorees must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher and compete in 50% of the team’s rounds.

Central was previously No. 24 in this ranking following the 2021-22 season.

WGCA Division III All-Scholar Team Award Top 25
Place University Team GPA
1 Aurora (Ill.) 3.890
2 Washington and Lee (Va.) 3.860
3 Middlebury (Vt.) 3.847
4 Illinois Wesleyan 3.842
5 Saint Mary’s College (Minn.) 3.818
6 Manchester (Ind.) 3.811
7 Bethel (Minn.) 3.809
8 Carnegie Mellon (Pa.) 3.793
9 Ithaca (N.Y.) 3.779
10 St. Olaf (Minn.) 3.765
11 Macalester (Minn.) 3.759
12 Edgewood (Wis.) 3.750
13 Benedictine (Ill.) 3.743
14 Suffolk (Mass.) 3.713
15 LeTourneau (Texas) 3.695
16 Adrian (Mich.) 3.680
T17 Wis. – River Falls 3.670
T17 Luther 3.670
19 Centre (Ky.) 3.647
20 Trine (Ind.) 3.644
21 Hope (Mich.) 3.642
22 Calvin (Mich.) 3.639
23 Otterbein (Ohio 3.638
24 Central College 3.634
25. St. Catherine (Minn.) 3.627