NORMAL, ILL.— Central College got a career-best 75 from Peyton Bytnar (senior, Bettendorf) but couldn't make up any ground at the Illinois Wesleyan Fall Classic women's golf tourney Sunday.
           
Competing on the par-72 Ironwood Golf Course near her home in Bloomington, Mackenzie Biggs (senior, Normal HS) rolled in three birdies in shooting a 38-39—77 and was Central's top finisher, tying for 17th with 76-77—153. Bytnar tied for 35th at 81-75—156. Lydia Grond (junior, Hull, Boyden-Hull HS) shot 77-81—158 while Avery Woods (senior, Long Grove, North Scott HS) had 83-83--166 and Rachel Sohn (senior, Sutherland, South O'Brien HS) had 84-84--168.
           
Central placed 12th in the 19-team tourney at 316-316—632. Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.) held on for the team title at 288-296—584 with host Illinois Wesleyan University at 290-297—587. Central bested American Rivers foe the University of Dubuque in Sunday's round but the Spartans tied for eighth overall at 307-317—624.
           
Yet Schumacher said the Dutch were on the brink of an even better round.
           
"We started the day off well and had passed quite a few teams, but we kind of stumbled to the finish," she said. "But Peyton shooting 3-over for 75, that's her PR, so I can't be mad at that. It was nice to see someone other than Mackenzie (Biggs) or Lydia (Grond) go low."
           
Dutch at-large entrant Parker Stout (junior, Lowden, North Cedar) had 86-89—175, Jaden Smith (sophomore, Marengo, Iowa Valley HS) shot 85-91--176 and Mickey Martens (freshman, Villa Park, Ill., Willowbrook HS) shot 88-94—182.
           
Schumacher was impressed with Bytnar's performance.
           
"I haven't looked at the stats yet, but from what I saw, she scrambled well and saved herself some pars," she said. "I'm sure she hit quite a few greens and didn't have a ton of putts. That's usually the recipe for success on any course."
           
Her teammates made nice recoveries as well, Schumacher said.
           
"We weren't necessarily striking the ball amazing but we were scrambling really well," she said. "As a coach, you've got to be pretty proud with the scores they put up when they didn't feel like they had their A games this weekend, and especially today."
           
Central makes its first appearance in the Midwest Region Fall Classic Friday and Saturday at the Brighton Dale Golf Links at Kansasville, Wisconsin. Last year's field included 24 times, primarily NCAA Division III teams from Wisconsin and Illinois, but has expanded to more than 35 teams, Schumacher said. That necessitates a double-shotgun start, with the Dutch playing in the second wave Friday at 1 p.m. and the first wave Saturday at 9 a.m.
           
"There are some pretty good teams there," Schumacher said.