Central’s inaugural appearance at women’s golf national tournament comes to an end

Central College

Central’s inaugural appearance at women’s golf national tournament comes to an end

HOUSTON, Texas — After never making the NCAA Division III national tournament before, the Central College women’s golf team ended its season Thursday after missing the top-15 team cut by 12 strokes.

Central finished the tournament in 16th after posting a third-round 337 on the par-72, 5,869-yard Bay Oaks Country Club, adding on to its previous 668-two-day total.

“Very proud of the season these young women had,” said coach Tim Wilkinson. “We were able to gain valuable experience and hopefully we will be back at nationals again.”

Defending champion Rhodes College (Tenn.) surrendered the lead to George Fox University (Ore.) Thursday after George Fox posted the only sub-300 round of the tournament. The Bruins had identical 303 rounds the first two days of the tournament before posting a 297.

Sophomore Brittany Coppess (Clinton) tied for 56th after adding an 80 to her 166-two-day total, tying with Coppess was teammate junior Cierra Pulse (Stronghurst, Ill., West Central HS) posting an 87 after a two-day total of 159, junior Alison Kretzinger (Johnston) finished tied for 83rd with a final round 87, adding to her 169-two-day total, freshman Emily Opsal (Verona, Wis., Verona Area HS) tied for 85th following her final round 83, giving her a 257 total and junior Molly Timmerman (Dubuque) finished 100th, carding an 89, adding to her 186-two-day total.

“We have everyone on the team coming back next year and hopefully this tournament and experience of being here will give them motivation to get back here,” said Wilkinson. “This summer will be big for our women to continue to develop.”

The Dutch return all seven letterwinners for the 2017-18 season and look to win the Iowa Conference in consecutive years for the first time since the 1989-19890 seasons. The team won six straight league titles from 1982-1987.