Central’s Coppess advances in NCAA women’s golf tourney
Central Dutch Athletics
HOUSTON, TEXAS—Central College’s Brittany Coppess (senior, Clinton) advanced to Friday’s final round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championship.
But the Dutch couldn’t muster the late charge they needed Thursday to move on as a team. Needing to crack the top 15 to make the cut for Friday’s final round, Central posted its highest score of the week and closed in 19th place at 336-341-345—1022. Translvania University (Ky.) is 15th at 978. Williams College (Mass.) leads the tournament at 915.
The Dutch were part of a 25-team field at the at the 5,889-yard, par-72 Bay Oaks Country Club.
However, Coppess hung on as one of six qualifiers from a team outside the top 15. She entered the day third in that group, but after a promising start, her hopes seemingly unraveled with a 10 on the No. 2 hole, her 11th hole of the day, and she skidded to a 39-45—84 to finish at 75-78-84—237. She dropped into a tie for 41st overall after sharing 15th the previous day. But after initially thinking her hopes of surviving the cut sank along with the two balls she dumped into the water on No. 2, Coppess is still fifth among individual at-large competitors.
Coach Tim Wilkinson was impressed with Coppess’ ability to regain her footing the remainder of the round.
“The fact that she held on and competed speaks highly of her,” Wilkinson said. “It’s hard because you know when you’re out there what that’s going to do to your score. She was disappointed, but she was still into it. Every hole after that was a bit of a grind.”
But as the afternoon scores rolled in, Coppess learned she’ll get to finish her Central career in the final round of the national meet.
Meanwhile, after an erratic first two days, Rachael Danielson (freshman, Jefferson, Greene County HS) came back with her best round of the tourney and led the Dutch Thursday with an 80 to finish tied for 102nd at 95-87-80—262.
“She showed some resiliency in being able to rebound,” Wilkinson said. “She should take quite a bit of confidence from the fact that she played her best golf to this point in that kind of environment.”
Emily Opsal (junior, Verona, Wis.) tied for 70th at 77-85-85—247, Lexie Patton (junior, Aurelia, Alta-Aurelia HS) tied for 113th at 89-91-96–276, and Stacy Mohr (junior, Sigourney) tied for 120th at 97-92-102–291. There are 131 players in the field.
“We ended up where we should have according to the averages,” Wilkinson said. “I’m not disappointed in where we placed but the players are disappointed in their scores and that maybe they didn’t play their best golf over the past three days.”
But Thursday’s round doesn’t cloud a memorable season for the Dutch, who captured the American Rivers Conference crown last fall, the program’s 10th league title overall. Central was making its second NCAA tournament appearance. Nor does it erase a memorable experience on the national stage.
“They do a phenomenal job here,” Wilkinson said of the tournament organizers. “It’s top-notch.”
And while the rest of the Dutch will cheer on Coppess Friday, Wilkinson already has his eye on the future for the four returning players and the Central program.
“I hope they’ll leave here with an experience they can grow from and try to get back here next year,” he said.
