NORMAL, Illinois—The Central College women’s golf team got a second chance to face a talented player at Saturday’s Illinois Wesleyan Fall Classic.
After finishing second in the season opener at the North Cohawk Invitational on September 3-4, the Netherlands finished 11th in a strong 23-team field at last weekend’s Wartburg Fall Invitational. After I finished, I was disappointed.
Faced at the par-72 Ironwood Golf Course on Saturday, the Dutchman is looking to make a bigger impression against some of the region’s top opponents and responded with a 308 just three shots off the lead. . The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater led the field with 15 teams in the 305-hole tournament, while the hosts Illinois and Wesleyan University had 308.
Delaney Underwood (Senior, Mitchellville, Colfax Mingo HS) Extending her blistering start to the season with a 3-over-par 75, she is tied for second in the individual. Wisconsin Her Whitewater Ellie Johnson leads at her 72. Thea Luning (Senior, Mason City) When Madison Clark (Advanced, Bloomington, IL, Central Catholic HS) Shares #6 at 77 while another big story is written Lydia Grond (Sophomore, Hull, Boyden Hull HS), I made my first appearance for the national team and turned 79 years old. Mackenzie Biggs (Junior, Bloomington, Illinois, High School)playing miles from her home, shot 81.
Central’s score was 17 shots better than the team’s first round effort at the same course a year earlier, and they finished 14th in a field of 20 teams.
Consistency was the difference for the Dutchman, who posted a tournament-high 57 par on Saturday.
“It helps a lot,” said the coach Tabitha Schumacher“We’re avoiding problems most of the time.”
Grond has grown tremendously since arriving at the Central Campus last fall.
“She scrambled pretty well,” said Schumacher. “I’m sure she didn’t have more than a bogey on the scorecard.”
Underwood and Luning have remained consistent leaders. Underwood’s score was 10 strokes lower than her opening match in last year’s tournament, but Lunning made her 3-stroke improvement.
“They were as solid as before,” Schumacher recalls. “They hit the ball well and made some good putts.”
Schumacher is thrilled to see the Dutchman in contention.
“I’m very happy with how we’ve played,” she said. I’m happy to come back and show that I can still play.”
The tournament ends on Sunday.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what tomorrow brings,” said Schumacher. “The biggest thing is to hit as many fairways and greens as you can and keep playing smart, but when you have to scramble to go up and down, you know it’s okay.”
