SALINA — Weather in Kansas can be fickle to say the least.
That was never more evident than for the Barton Community College men’s golf team over a three-day span. After playing in near perfect conditions Saturday in Dodge City, the Cougars trudged their way around a wet, cold, soggy, windy day in Salina Monday.
Barton finished the 36-hole event Monday with a 620, good for fourth place at the Bethany College Swede Fall Invitational played at a pair of golf courses.
Host Bethany College won the event with a 599, followed by Hastings (Nebraska) College with a 607. The Bethany College ‘B’ team was third at 610.
In all 12 teams took part in the Invitational.
“The guys had to play in some tough conditions,” Barton head coach Doug Kaiser said. “Due to the condition of the course they were allowed to pick, clean and place their ball within a scorecard. Really our guys played pretty well under the conditions.”
The teams opened play at the Salina Municipal Golf Course in the worst of conditions.
The morning brought rain with the cold and wind as the Cougars shot a 314. The teams played through and around standing water on some spots of the course.
The afternoon saw some off-and-on sunshine and the rain stopped, which allowed for some better scores.
The Cougars improved by eight strokes during the second 18 holes, shooting a 306 at the Great Life Golf Course, formerly the Elks Country Club.
“The rain stopped in the afternoon but it was windy all day,” Kaiser said. “It was very, very windy in the afternoon and we were getting close to dark by the time we finished.”
Koby Beougher and Andrew Iverson led the Cougars during the day as both golfers traversed the 36-hole event with an 11-over 151.
That was good for a tie for fourth.
Beougher, a sophomore from Stockton went 77-74 and Iverson, a freshman from Arkansas City shot a 76-75. Iverson played as an individual during the event and his scoring did not count toward the team total.
That was also the case for freshman Jestin Jackson.
The Valley Center freshman tied for eighth with a 78-75 — 153 as an individual. With several golfers that shoot similar scores, the team of five golfers is based on their performance at the previous meet.
Thailand freshman Natchapol Srinoon struggled during the day — especially in the afternoon.
In the first three meets of the fall, Srinoon had the best score (tied once) for the Cougars and placed in the top 10. Monday in Salina, Srinoon shot a 75-79 — 154 for the fourth best score for Barton and a tie for 12th at the meet.
Landon Fox, who equaled Srinoon at the Sterling Invitational as the top Cougars golfer, had a rough morning round. The sophomore from Winfield struggled to an 83 at the Municipal Course and came back with a 74 at the Elks for a total of 157, tied for 20th.
Ellinwood freshman Jared Oelke was consistent during the day, shooting a 79-80 — 159. Blake Huxman, a freshman from WaKeeney, rounded out the team with an 84-79 — 163.
The Cougars will wrap up the fall season Oct. 20-21 at the Winfield Country Club in the Southwestern College Invitational.