Central tied for second in league women’s golf

Central College

CEDAR FALLS — Taylor Hill (junior, Treynor) carded an 81 and the Central College women’s golf team is tied for second after a wind-swept opening round of the Iowa Conference tournament Friday.

High winds tempered hopes of a fast start on the wide-open par-72 Pheasant Ridge Golf Course as Central shot 344, tied with Simpson College and a shot better than Luther College. Defending champion Wartburg College already has a comfortable margin with a 314.

“I think a few of the players felt like they really needed to score well today and maybe pressed a little bit,” coach Tim Wilkinson said. “We need to take it one shot at a time and just keep moving forward after a bad shot.”

Hill stands fifth while Kelsey Van Tasell (junior, Pella) shares 12th with 86. Ali Kallsen (freshman, Hinton) is tied for 15th at 87, Rachel Cassens (sophomore, Stockton, Ill.) is tied for 21st with 90 and Chelsey Shuey (sophomore, Ames) is tied for 29th at 97.

Wartburg’s Rochelle Beardsley and Morgan McMillan share the first-round lead at 74, seven shots in front of Hill.

“Taylor didn’t score as well as she hit the ball,” Wilkinson said. “She hit a lot of fairways and she hit a lot of greens. She just didn’t putt the ball quite as well. But she’s still in contention for a high finish.”

Rain is expected Saturday.

“We’re still optimistic,” Wilkinson said. “I don’t think the conditions are going to get any better. But we’re excited to play another round.”

After Saturday’s round the 72-hole tourney concludes with 36 holes at the Elmcrest Country Club in Cedar Rapids.