It was a pretty good start to the spring season for the Barton Community College men’s golf team.
The Cougars opened the spring with the first Jayhawk Conference meet of the season and promptly shot the best team score in several years. Barton finished the meet in fourth place at Falcon Lakes Golf Course in Basehor.
Hutchinson won the meet with a pair of 291’s for a total of 582 – 10 strokes better than Dodge City’s 592. Kansas City Kansas was third with a 603 with Barton close behind at 605. That edged out Garden City, which shot a 606.
The Cougars moved into fourth with an even 300 on the second to pass Garden City. The Broncbusters shot a 303 on day two.
“It was the best score we have shot as a team at a conference meet in my five years as the coach of the boys,” Coach Doug Kaiser said. “Several years back those scores would win a conference tournament. The competition has gotten so much better.
“We had a good tournament overall. It was a good way to start the spring.”
Barton opened play on Monday with 305 over the Par 72 layout – 17 strokes over par and trailing Garden City by a pair. On the second day Barton shot the third best score overall – behind on the 291 by Hutch and the 294 by Dodge. Barton made up three strokes on KCK but came up just short of passing the Blue Devils for third.
Landon Fox led Barton with a 73-74 – 147 to take six in the individual results. Zach Kirby of Dodge City won with a 72-68 – 140, 4-under par effort. In all three golfers broke par and two more shot even par.
Natchapol Srinoon was close behind Fox and finished in a tie for 10th with a 77-74 – 151 total. Andrew Iverson had a tough first day but came back strong the second day and finished with an 83-73 – 156. Koby Beougher shot 78-79 – 157. The two finished 21st and 23rd.
Jared Oelke was just the opposite of Iverson, shooting a good round on the opening day then struggling on the second day. Oelke finished in 33rd with a 77-90 – 167. Blake Huxman shot 88-90 – 178.
Barton’s meet will be the second conference meet of the year April 12-13. That meet will in Lawrence at Alvamar Golf Course.