DODGE CITY – A pair of meets into the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference season, the Barton women’s golf team has established itself as the team to beat.
After an easy win in the opening meet, the Lady Cougars confirmed that with an impressive showing at Mariah Hills Golf Course in Dodge City.
Barton posted a team total of 511, beating second-place Dodge City by 63 strokes. Dodge was a distant second at 574 with Coffeyville coming in third at 581. The teams played nine holes on Sunday and came back with 18 holes on Monday.
“They all did a really good job,” Barton head coach Doug Kaiser said. “Mariah Hills is not an easy course. It was windy on Monday and they played good in the wind.”
The Lady Cougars took first and second individually and all five of the members placed in the Top 10.
Sophomore Natthakan Teeratrakul won the meet with an impressive 118 over the 27-hole event. Hye Rin Kim was second, three strokes back at 121. Par for the 27 holes was 108.
“Hye Rin shot lights out on the back nine,” Kaiser said of her even par 36 to finish the tournament. “She played exceptionally well. So did Nunee (Teeratrakul). She has matured so much this year.”
Barton opened play Sunday with a 178 total to take control of the event, leading by 14 strokes. No golfer was able to break 40 on the afternoon with Teeratrakul, a sophomore from Thailand, posting a 41 for a one-stroke lead over Coffeyville’s Julia Dierker.
Wichita sophomore Madison Walden posted the second best score for Barton Sunday, shooting a 45.
Monday belonged to Barton, specifically Teeratrakul and Kim.
Kim, a freshman from South Korea, had the best day, shooting a 4-over par 75, besting Teeratrakul, who shot a 77. Dierker had a good day as well for Coffeyville, shooting an 80 and taking third overall with a 122.
Abbie Thelen and Madison Krull both shot 90 for Barton, while Walden completed her meet with a 91.
Thelen, a sophomore from Meridan, finished with a 136, as did Walden, placing them in a tie for fifth. Krull, a freshman from Spring Hill, was close behind with a 138 in seventh to round out the Barton team. Also playing as an individual was Great Bend sophomore Madison Werth who shot a 142 to tie for eighth overall.
So far, two meets into the conference season, Barton has posted a pair of 60-stroke wins. The Lady Cougars beat Coffeyville by 60 in the opening meet at Colby before besting Dodge City by 63 on the Conquistadors home course.
“Really excited how the team has started the season,” Kaiser said. “We have won tournaments by 2 or 3 strokes the last few years so to be comfortably in first place is nice.”
Barton will look to continue its good conference play in Coffeyville for the final fall conference meet of the season Oct. 5-6. Barton also still has a pair of events outside of conference action in Salina Oct. 13 and Winfield Oct. 20-21.