Alison Miller Aug. 31, 2009

Large field set for Central Invitational

PELLA—Teeing off its most promising season in more than 10 years, the Central College women’s golf squad welcomes 13 teams for the Central Invitational Friday and Saturday.

The 36-hole tourney starts at 10 a.m. Friday at Pella’s par-72 Bos Landen Golf Club, with Saturday’s round at 8:30 a.m. It’s the largest field the tourney has attracted since Bos Landen opened in 1994 and includes defending Iowa Conference champion Wartburg, Buena Vista, Cornell, Loras, Luther, Nebraska Wesleyan, Simpson, Truman State, Waldorf and William Penn. Central and Truman State will each enter two teams.

Coach Jodee Schaben, who shared Iowa Conference coach of the year honors last year after piloting the Dutch to a tie for second place in the league, said it’s a strong field.

“We’re really excited to have 10 other schools,” she said. “Most of the conference schools will be there so it will be a good preview of the season. It’s always hard to say who will be the strongest before any of us have played, but Wartburg is always strong, Simpson has a couple of good returning seniors who could carry them and Truman State is a Division II school, so we expect them to be strong.”

Central was first in a six-team, rain-shortened tourney last year, shooting 359 for 18 holes. But Schaben thinks her squad can improve on last season’s score, noting that the Dutch shot 20 strokes better in a recent practice round.

Fueling her optimism is the return of sophomore Sarah Paulson (Ottumwa), who was the Iowa Conference MVP in her rookie season and went on to earn all-America distinction in May by placing sixth at the NCAA Division III Championships.

This weekend’s varsity lineup will likely also include senior Eva Downes (Woodstock, Ill., Marian Catholic Central HS), Nicole Wenstrand (junior, Essex) and freshman Kaurie Kincaid (Knoxville). The No. 5 spot is being contested by freshman Ashley Smith (Johnsburg, Ill.,), Allison Crooks (junior, Moline, Ill.), Alison Miller (sophomore, Davenport, North HS) and Molli O’Brien (junior, Clarion, Clarion-Goldfield HS).

“It’s exciting to have a lot of people with potential,” Schaben said. “It’s nice to not have to depend on the top four every time.”

The depth has made for more competition in practice and increased intensity.

“The preseason has gone well,” Schaben said. “The players have worked really hard and I think several have made huge improvements in their short games.”