AMES— Combating stiff winds, the Central College women's golf team opened in second place at the American Rivers tournament Saturday.
           
Competing at the par-72 Ames Country Club, the Dutch shot 335, trailing the defending champion University of Dubuque by 11 shots. Four other squads lurk within nine shots of Central, with Loras College at 336, Coe College at 341, Buena Vista University at 344 and Wartburg College at 345.
           
Two-time all-conference honoree Lydia Grond (senior, Hull, Boyden-Hull HS) stands in seventh place with an 82 in the first round of the 54-hole tourney. Freshman Allie Pfantz (State Center, West Marshall HS) is tied for ninth with 84, Parker Stout (senior, Lowden, North Cedar HS) is tied for 11th at 85 while Amber Timmer (freshman, San Diego, Cali., Mount Carmel HS) and Mickey Martens (sophomore, Villa Park, Ill., Willowbrook HS) are part of a six-way tie for 18th at 885.
           
Central was at a disadvantage in teeing off in the final wave as winds picked up as the day progressed, coach Tabitha Schumacher said.
          
 "I felt like we dealt with it pretty well, all things considered," she said.
           
The effects of the winds showed up most around the green.                                     
           
"When it's this windy, you're not going to hit as many greens," Schumacher said. "You've got to give yourself some chances for up and down and then make those putts from five feet and in. Those are huge.
           
"But I'm proud of how the players stayed in the round because when it's weather like this, it's really easy to get out of hand quickly."
           
The winds are expected to ease only slightly Sunday as the Dutch tee off for round two.