After Further Review: NCAA Women’s Golf Third Round Didn’t Happen

There was one more twist to a memorable Central College women’s golf season Thursday, even after it had concluded for the Dutch.

A few hours after Central completed third-round play at the NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championships, the round for all competitors was stopped and canceled due to a pin placement that was ruled unfair.  Tournament results reverted to how they stood after Wednesday’s second round, the tournament was shortened from 72 to 54 holes and the original 54-hole cut that sliced the 29-team field to the top 15 was changed to a 36-hole cut. The top 15 teams following the second round will play the final 18 holes Friday.

That doesn’t change Central’s status. The Dutch were 22nd after 36 holes and appeared likely to finish 22nd after 54, shooting 347-349-345—1041 at the Mission Inn Resort and Club’s par-73, 5,823-yard El Campeon Golf Course. That score officially becomes 347-349—696 and, ironically, erases Central’s best round of the week.

However, it did have an impact on Central’s top performer, Delaney Underwood, who shot 84-83-82—248, which became 84-83—167. Originally the top six individual players not on advancing teams moved on to Friday’s round. Because third-round play was not completed, that pool was expanded to the top 12 individuals. Underwood tied for the 12th spot but lost out on a tiebreaker.

The NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Committee was forced to make a difficult, but necessary decision, releasing this statement:
“The NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Committee has determined that round 3 will officially be canceled on the grounds of an unplayable hole for the entire tournament field. As play continued throughout round 3 it became apparent that the pin placement on Hole 6 was too severe for play.”

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Strong Opening Day for Central in Heptathlon, Decathlon

At the halfway mark Thursday, all five Central College track and field athletes entered in the multi-events of the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships are in position to score and improve their national qualification standing.

Olivia Bohlen is in first place through four events in the heptathlon with 2,662 points. Bohlen was a second and half faster and 180 points better than the rest of the field in the 100-meter hurdles (15.33 seconds). She had the second-best high jump (4-9.75) and 200-meter dash (26.58 seconds) and third-best shot put (32-9) in the 11-woman field.

Brody Klein and Reid Pakkebier are first and second through five events of the men’s decathlon. Klein has 3,494 points and Pakkebier has 3,409 points. Klein won the high jump (6-4) while Pakkebier won the 100-meter dash (11.25 seconds) and long jump (21-5.5). Lucas Heitz is in fifth with 3,244 points with most of his better events on the schedule for day two. Gavin Smith has Central in position for four scorers, sitting in sixth with 3,206 points.

The second day of action at the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships starts at 10 a.m.