CEDAR FALLS—Springboarding off of last year's late-season success, Central College junior Lydia Grond (Hull, Boyden-Hull HS) fired a 76 and is tied for second after the opening round of the 36-hole Kohawk Fall Classic Saturday.
           
Competing at the par-72 Pheasant Ridge Golf Course, the Dutch stand second in the 11-team tourney at 320, eight shots back American Rivers foe the University of Dubuque. Wartburg College is third at 323 with host Coe College at 334.
           
Grond was Central's No. 5 player a year ago but surged to take medalist honors at the conference tournament. She's two shots out of first.
           
"She played really well," coach Tabitha Schumacher said. "And she felt that she missed some shorter birdie putts that she could have had. So it was nice to see her come out strong. Just having someone that can be near the top of the leaderboard is going to help a lot."
           
Central lost three key players from last year's conference champs, but Peyton Bytnar (senior, Bettendorf) could be one to help fill the void. She's tied for eighth at 79.
           
"Peyton played well," Schumacher said "She's been in the top five a lot but to have someone who didn't end the season in the top five come in and shoot under 80 really helps. She was pretty happy."
           
Meanwhile, Mackenzie Biggs (senior, Bloomington, Ill., Normal HS) shot 80 and Avery Woods (senior, Long Grove, North Scott HS) and Rachel Sohn (senior, Sutherland, South O'Brien HS) each had 85.
           
"We played pretty well but I think the biggest thing is we are just missing a solid number four score," Schumacher said. "Moving forward, if we want to be competitive, the fourth score, ideally you'd like it under 80 but even under 82 would help. But at the end of the day, we still played pretty well. It's a good start to the season."
           
Parker Stout (junior, Lowden, North Cedar HS) shot 82 for Central's second unit, the White team. Mickey Martens (freshman, Villa Park, Ill., Willowbrook HS) had 87, Jaden Smith (sophomore, Marengo, Iowa Valley HS) had 90, Sophie Lunning (junior, Mason City) had 96 and Carly Hron (freshman, Polk City, North Polk HS) had 109.
           
Sunday's final round tees off at 9 a.m.