Eva Downes May 2, 2009

Paulson leads Blugold tourney

EAU CLAIRE, WIS.—In a field that includes several nationally ranked squads, Central College freshman Sarah Paulson (Ottumwa) is the first-round leader at the Blugold Pre-D3 Championship Invitational women’s golf tourney Saturday. Central claimed two of the top three spots and stands a surprising third in the team standings. Paulson carded a 5-over-par 78 and holds a 2-stroke lead over Jessica Urban. Eva Downes (junior, Woodstock, Ill., Marion Catholic Central) is third at 84 and Abby Lukensmeyer (freshman, Hampton, Hampton-Dumont HS) is tied for 10th at 88. Allison Crooks (sophomore, Moline, Ill.) and Allison Miller (freshman, Davenport, North HS) each shot 99. At-large entrant Lindsey Ellenson (sophomore, Amana, Clear Creek-Amana HS) had 109.

Central shot 349 while No. 2-ranked Wis.-Stevens Point shot 340 and No. 10 Wis.-Eau Claire had 345. No. 24 Carleton College (Minn.) and No. 16 Wis.-Whitewater are tied for fourth at 363 in the 11-team tournament, which concludes Sunday.

“We played really well,” coach Jodee Schaben said. “It was super windy. The winds felt like they were a constant 30 mph, so they were tough conditions. Some of the top players in the nation are here and they were struggling. I was a little disappointed initially with our two 99s, but I reevaluated a little as the other scores came in.”

Schaben said her squad spent an hour following the round working on putting.

“Their swings look great,” she said. “They’re striking the ball well. But what let us down was our putting.”

But Schaben likes the progress her young team is making.

“They’re really working together as a team, which is nice to see,” she said.