Playoff! Central captures league women’s golf crown
Central Dutch Athletics
DECORAH—The finish was more sudden and dramatic than anticipated, but the result was exactly what the Central College women’s golf team wanted. For the second time in three seasons and the 10th time overall, the Dutch are league champs.
Steady rain made much of the Oneota Golf and Country Club unplayable, forcing cancellation of Sunday’s scheduled final round. But Central and the University of Dubuque, tied for the top spot after three rounds of the scheduled 72-hole tourney, were able to stage a one-hole team playoff for the title.
Central’s team played the par-5 18th hole in even par to take the crown by two shots over the Spartans. And Brittany Coppess (senior, Clinton) also topped Dubuque’s Daniela Miranda on the hole for medalist honors.
Coppess, who was named the conference player of the year, finished at 80-76-75—231 while Miranda shot 74-80-77—231.
With the win comes an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Championships May 14-17 at Bay Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas.
“It was an exciting morning,” said coach Tim Wilkinson, who was voted the league’s coach of the year. “The players were excited to get the opportunity to play rather than have it be decided by a card-back (tiebreaker) or something like that. I’m just proud and excited for them and what they were able to accomplish.”
Saturday’s third-round results stand as final, so the Dutch closed at 327-321-332—980 with Dubuque at 327-322-331—980. Defending champion Wartburg College finished third at 336-335-329—1000 with Luther College at 335-338-342—1015. This weekend’s action was at the par-72 Oneota course after two rounds last week at the Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls.
Coppess closes her conference career as a four-time all-league honoree. She was fifth individually in 2015 and 2016 before placing second last year. Emily Opsal (junior, Verona, Wis., Verona HS) repeated as an all-conference honoree, finishing fourth in the 40-player field at 78-77-86—241 after a ninth-place effort in 2016 and a 12th-place finish last year. Lexie Patton (junior, Aurelia, Alta-Aurelia HS) earned all-league distinction for the first time, placing ninth at 86-78-86—250. She was 18th last year. Rachel Danielson (freshman, Jefferson, Greene County HS) was 16th at 83-90-85–258. Stacy Mohr (junior, Sigourney), who took over at the No. 5 spot for Central this weekend, shot 90. Sabrina Reed (freshman, Prairie City, Prairie City-Monroe HS) competed in the first two rounds for the Dutch, shooting 102-103—205.
This will be Central’s second NCAA tourney trip. The Dutch competed in May, 2017, after winning the 2016 league crown the previous fall. That tournament was also staged in Houston, where Central failed to make the 54-hole cut. Coppess and Opsal both played in that tournament.
“I’m really excited about opportunity to go back to Houston and participate in the championships,” Wilkinson said. “That’s what they play for.”
Central must first close out the fall season, competing at the Whistling Straits Intercollegiate Invitational at Kohler, Wisconsin Oct. 21-23. The tourney is held on the club’s Irish Course, ranked No. 45 on Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses” list. The 36-hole complex is the site of the 2020 Ryder Cup.
