Athletics > Women's Golf > Season Outlook

2007 OUTLOOK

What appears to be Central College 's deepest women's golf recruiting class in recent years makes a well-timed arrival this fall.

Just two letterwinners are back from last season's squad which finished fifth in the Iowa Conference but there are nine freshmen on the 13-player preseason roster.

It will also be a year of transition for Jodee Schaben, who becomes an assistant coach for the Dutch after three seasons as head coach. Schaben accepted a faculty position in the college's exercise science department and is unable to continue as head coach. But she remains enthused about the program and her incoming players.

“The thing that's most exciting is the intensity of the players who are coming in,” she said. “They are workhorses. They've been asking about off-season workouts, they've been asking about lifting programs and they've been out there playing a lot of golf. They're all hard workers and they all want to improve.”

Inheriting the leadership mantle are junior Jordan Williams and sophomore Eva Downes. Downes cracked the varsity lineup last fall and made dramatic strides in the spring, taking team medalist honors in both meets. After averaging 90.1 in fall competition, Downes was under 90 in three of her four spring rounds and posted a 79 in the Carleton ( Minn. ) Invitational, matching the team's 2006-07 year low score.

“Eva and Jordan will most likely be in our top five which is good because we need their experience,” Schaben said.

Freshmen Nicole Wenstrand of Essex, a Shenandoah High School graduate, and Lindsey Ellenson of Amana, bring the strongest high school credentials. But Schaben said varsity spots will have to be earned and that the team's new-found depth will likely result in regular lineup changes.

“It's going to be pretty wide open,” she said. “The person who can stay calm and mentally strong on the course is going to have the advantage. We could have lots of people traveling this year. We'll probably have a couple of consistent varsity players but the lineup will change from week to week.”

The team's maturity level is an obvious concern.

“One thing we'll be looking for is having that leader step up,” she said. “We've had a few people that have taken on various aspects of that role. Anybody who is willing to put in the time and make that commitment to the team could emerge as the leader.”

Central wasn't the only league school hit hard by graduation and Schaben sees an opportunity for the young Dutch to climb in the standings.

“This is the year to make a move,” she said.

Simpson edged Wartburg for last year's title. Schaben calls Simpson this fall's favorite and said Loras has a veteran team as well. Wartburg and Buena Vista have been consistent contenders and Schaben said Coe showed signs of significant improvement last year.

Central's youngsters will get an early introduction to college play. The Wis.-Eau Claire Fall Invitational Sept. 1-2 features many of the region's top teams.

“I love starting at Eau Claire ,” Schaben said. “It gives us a view of what's out there. It lets our players see the best and makes them hungry to get to that level.”