Erasing the disappointment of the title that got away last fall, the Central College women’s golf team left no doubt, placing four players in the top five and running away from the field to win the American Rivers Conference championship by 42 shots Monday.

It’s Central’s 11th league crown and the program’s first since 2018. It also gives the Dutch an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Championships May 9-12 at the Mission Inn Resort and Club at Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. It will be Central’s third team appearance in the national tourney.

Central posted three consistent rounds to finish at 317-305-314—936 at the par-71 Ames Golf and Country Club, outdistancing the University of Dubuque which shot 321-323-334—978 in the 54-hole, three-day tourney. And the Dutch did it without the league’s coach of the year, Tabitha Schumacher, who gave birth to her first daughter early Saturday morning. Dutch men’s golf coach Mel Blasi stepped in to shepherd the squad through the weekend.

While Central returned its entire top five from a team that entered last year’s league tourney with title hopes but finished second, it was a member of last fall’s junior varsity who fueled the championship run. Lydia Grond, who carried a 91.0 stroke average last year and made her first varsity appearance late last month, earning the team’s No. 5 position, soared to medalist honors with 78-74-80—232. Thea Lunning was second at 76-80-79—235 while Delaney Underwood placed third at 78-76-82—236. Mackenzie Biggs found some answers after the first round and surged to fifth place at 85-76-77—238, posting the day’s best round Monday.

All four received all-conference honors. It was the third time for Biggs, who was third in 2020 and sixth last year, and also for Underwood, who was seventh last year, and for Lunning, who was eighth in 2021. Madison Clark, who tied for 10th last year, narrowly missed gaining all-conference distinction, finishing 12th at 90-79-78—247.

Madeline Streicher led the Simpson women’s golf team to an eighth-place finish at the American Rivers Conference Championship.

Streicher played consistent golf over the entirety of the three-day event, shooting an 85, 84 and 81, respectively, for a total of 250. Streicher’s performance earned her 13th place overall, the highest placing for a Storm golfer at the conference championships since Hannah Gordon claimed second in 2019. Streicher has been the top storm golfer at every fall event besides one.

Taylor Elam placed second on the team by carding a three-day total of 266, good for a tie for 25th. Madison Wardlow checked in with a tournament total to place 39th, while Joann Martin rounded out the Storm with a three-day total of 316 for 41st place.