Championship Webpage

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- Behind four birdies on the back nine, Central senior Sarah Paulson fired an even-par 72 and saw her lead in the medalist race double through 18 holes at the 2011 Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) Women's Golf Championship.

Paulson fired a 34 on the backside of the par-72 layout at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course, birdying the 10th, 11th, 14th, and 17th holes. At 147, she now leads Wartburg's Paige Klostermann (78-75--153) by six strokes and Kelsi Sawatzky (79-77--156) by nine. Her Saturday 18-hole total and 36-hole midway score both rank second-best in tournament history to marks she already holds. Paulson fired a 71 in the second round of the 2008 Championship and finished the first weekend of the 2009 Championship with a 145 total (73-72).

With Klostermann, Sawatzky and freshman Morgan McMillan (tie-fifth, 161) all in the top ten, the Knights have a 639 total through the first weekend and lead the team race by eight strokes over the Dutch (320-327--647). Luther sits third (679), just ahead of Loras (683) and Simpson (686).

Six of nine schools have at least one player in the top ten, led by Central and Wartburg with three each. Along with Paulson, the Dutch have Ali Miller (163) in eighth and Kaurie Kincaid (165) in ninth. Loras' Abby Potts sits fourth at 160, followed by Buena Vista's Kylie Hammer, Dubuque's Alex Hoye, and Wartburg's McMillin tied for fifth at 161. Simpson's Jennifer Gaffney (163) rounds out the top ten.

The Championship concludes October 7-8 with 36 holes at Lake Creek Country Club near Storm Lake. Friday's round begins at 9 a.m. with teams paired by their 36-hole team scores. Coe, Dubuque, and Cornell will tee off in the first wave, followed by Loras, Simpson, and host Buena Vista in the second wave, and Wartburg, Central, and Luther in the third.