Kincaid ace, Paulson spark Central women’s golf squad

Central College

STORM LAKE — Central College junior Kaurie Kincaid (Knoxville) recorded the first career hole-in-one while senior Sarah Paulson (Ottumwa) quietly secured the individual lead at the Buena Vista Women’s Fall Invitational golf tournament Friday.

The 36-hole, 11-team tourney concludes Saturday at the par-72 Lake Creek Country Club. Seven Iowa Conference teams are in the field as they familiarize themselves with the course that will host the final 36 holes of the league tournament Oct. 7-8. The Dutch shot 344 in muggy conditions with occasion rain and stand second behind Wartburg, which shot 334.

Paulson carded a 76 in her first fall season action in two years. The two-time Iowa Conference MVP missed last fall while studying in Europe through Central Abroad but is in a familiar position at the top of the leaderboard.

“She didn’t hit a lot of greens but she scrambled well enough to score,” coach Tim Wilkinson said. “She putted really well. She’s still finding her way.”

Kincaid shot a 90 but aced her third hole of the day, a 155-yard par-3, using a 4-iron. Ali Miller (senior, Davenport, North HS) had 88, Kelsey Van Tasell (freshman, Pella) shot 90 in her collegiate debut, and Ashley Smith (junior, Johnsburg, Ill.) had a 93.

“I was pleased with Kelsey (Van Tasell),” Wilkinson said. “We wanted our No. 5 player to shoot 90 or below and she did that.

“But overall we felt like we could have scored a little lower. But it’s the first tournament of the season and I think there were some jitters. And no one on the team had played this course before. I definitely expect our scores to be a little lower tomorrow.”