NORMAL, ILL.— Allie Pfantz (freshman, State Cener, West Marshall HS) carded a 79 as the Central College women's golf team opened in 12th at the 21-team, 36-hole Kathy Niepagen Spring Fling Saturday.
           
Competing at the par-72 Ironwood Golf Course, Pfantz stands 26th. The University of Saint Catherine (Minn.), ranked No. 10 in the WGCA Mizuno Division III Coaches' Poll, fired a 299 to lead the host school, No. 18 Illinois Wesleyan University, by three shots. Aurora University (Ill.) and No. 24-ranked Grinnell College share third at 306.
           
Central shot 328 while American Rivers foe Wartburg College is 16th at 334.
           
Central's Lydia Grond (senior, Hull, Boyden-Hull HS) shot 80, while Parker Stout (senior, Lowden, North Cedar HS) had 84, Amber Timmer (freshman, San Diego, Calif., Mount Carmel HS) shot 85 and Mickey Martens (sophomore, Villa Park, Ill., Willowbrook ) shot 89.
           
It was only Central's second outing of the spring after posting a 15th-place finish in the rain-shortened Washington University (Mo.) Spring Invitational March 22.
           
"We played a lot better," coach Mackenzie Biggs said. "The conditions were better and the players were hitting the ball well."
           
Brisk winds, a typical feature of the Ironwood course, are anticipated Sunday, but Biggs isn't overly concerned.                                                                                                                              
           
"The players have played the course before, so they know what to expect," she said.
           
There will be a 9 a.m. shotgun start for Sunday's final round.