AMES—Posting three scores in the 70s, the Central College women's golf team is lurking four shots off the lead after the first round of the 54-hole American Rivers tourney at the par-71 Ames Golf and Country Club Saturday.
           
The University of Dubuque shot 313 while defending champion Central shot 317 with Coe College at 324 and Wartburg College at 332.
           
Last year's conference medalist, Lydia Grond (junior, Hull, Boyden-Hull HS), had three birdies, including two in the final four holes to card a 76. She's tied for second individually behind Dubuque's Morgan Hawkins, who shot 74.
           
"On the front nine she wasn't feeling super solid with her irons, but she started to figure something out a little bit on the back nine and gave herself a couple more birdie chances," coach Tabitha Schumacher said. "She grinded out there on the front nine. I don't think she hit a whole lot of greens so it was nice to see her play well."
           
Mackenzie Biggs (senior, Bloomington, Ill., Normal HS) followed with a 77 and stands fourth Peyton Bytnar (senior, Bettendorf) shot a 1-over-par 36 on the front nine and finished with 79 to tie for fifth. Avery Woods (senior, Long Grove, North Scott HS) was Central's fourth scorer with 85. Rachel Sohn (senior, Sutherland, South O'Brien HS) shot 95.
           
"I'm pretty happy with how we played," Schumacher said. "With the weather a little colder and a little bit of wind, it's kind of a sneaky tough course. I feel like the scores we have are pretty respectable.
           
"There's a little bit of grinding out there where there are still a couple players who don't have 100% confidence but I'm really proud of how they finished."
           
Sunday's 18-hole second round starts at 10 a.m. with Central's first player teeing off at 11:30 a.m.