In Central College’s first taste of athletics action since the COVID-19 shutdown halted play March 13, a youthful Dutch women’s golf team bolted to an encouraging start behind a personal-best 75 by freshman Mackenzie Biggs who grabbed the first-round lead at the 36-hole Luther Classic Saturday.

Biggs has a one-shot edge over Madison Bowers of the University of Dubuque. Dubuque tops the seven-team field with 316, with Wartburg College at 320, Luther College at 326 and Central fourth at 329.

Central’s score was just a stroke behind the first-round number posted on the par-72 Fox Ridge Golf Course by a more veteran Dutch squad a year ago. And this while playing without the team’s most experienced player and lone upperclassman, junior Rachael Danielson, who is temporarily sidelined. It was the first collegiate meet for five Central players as well as the debut for new coach Tabitha Schumacher and they were coming off an abbreviated pre-season, with just a week of practice. Delaney Underwood carded a collegiate-best 79 while Madison Clark shot 87, Whitney Anderson had 88 and Avery Woods had 92.

The Dutch are back in action next weekend at the Wartburg Fall Invitational.