GRINNELL—Bringing a challenging spring season to a windy close, the Central College women's golf team was outshot by Grinnell College, 319 to 329 Saturday.
           
The Dutch second unit, the White team, followed with 367 at the par-71 Grinnell College Golf Course as winds gusted up to 35 miles per hour. Originally scheduled as a two-day meet, the triangular was trimmed to 18 holes.
           
Grinnell's Nina Kouchi and Abrie Torhorst shared medalist honors with 78, with Central's Delaney Underwood (junior, Mitchellville, Colfax-Mingo HS) and Madison Clark (junior, Bloomington, Ill., Central Catholic HS) close behind with 80. Mackenzie Biggs (sophomore, Bloomington, Ill., Normal HS) had 84, Peyton Bytnar (sophomore, Bettendorf) had 85 and Thea Lunning (junior, Mason City) shot 87.
           
Lydia Grond (freshman, Hull, Boyden-Hull HS) had 88 for the White squad with Parker Stout (freshman, Lowden, North Cedar HS) at 90, Rachel Sohn (sophomore, Sutherland, South O'Brien HS) at 91, Whitney Anderson (junior, Sioux Rapids, Sioux Central HS) at 98 and Lauren Cook (freshman, Pleasantville) at 104.
           
"The weather definitely took a turn after nine holes," coach Tabitha Schumacher said. "It got a lot colder and windier. It made the course play a lot longer."
           
Schumacher was impressed with her team's scores, considering the conditions.
           
"Madison (Clark) and Delaney (Underwood) played well," she said. "It was nice to have two scores in the 80s."
           
The conditions mirrored what the Dutch have played in throughout the spring season.
           
"I still feel like it was productive," Schumacher said. "The scoring averages were a little higher than they were in the fall but we learned a lot about playing in adverse conditions."
           
And for several squad members, it's not the last time this spring they'll battle wind, as Central sends partial men's and women's on a trip to Scotland May 23-June 1.
           
"I keep telling them this will prepare them for Scotland," Schumacher said.
           
Central, which finished second in the American Rivers championship meet last fall, returns its entire top five in August. Schumacher said the team's ability to challenge for the top spot will likely be determined by the time the players put in prior to their return to campus.
           
"It's important to keep working on their games this summer so they'll be sharp when fall comes," she said.