The past few years the Barton men’s golf team has been in the middle of the pack in the Jayhawk Conference. The Cougars have been knocking on the door but haven’t been able to crack into that top level.
This year Coach Doug Kaiser hopes his team is ready to do just that.
The Cougars return a pair of golfers with the ability to shoot near or under par. An incoming freshman that can do the same and a sophomore transfer that shoots in the low 70’s as well.
That, coupled with good depth, could make the Cougars a contender in the conference this year.
“I think this group is ready to compete for the upper portion of the conference,” Coach Kaiser said. “We have some really good golfers. Our top eight or nine are solid. In the past we’ve maybe had four or so but we couldn’t get in the top one, two, or three.”
Heading the list of returning golfers will be Jakkapat Horsangchai and Seokhun Kang.
Horsangchai, a sophomore from Thailand, was the top finisher for the Cougars at the District III meet last season, shooting a 71-73-80 for 8-over par in 14th place. He finished 8th overall in the Jayhawk standings last year.
Kang, a sophomore from South Korea, was also a solid player for the Cougars last year, shooting in the low 70’s often. Those two will be joined by Thitipong Homruen, a freshman from Thailand.
“They have really been shooting some good scores in practice,” Coach Kaiser said. “Really any of those three could be our number one. Those three should be low 70’s or better most of the year.
Another big addition will be sophomore transfer Calin Meyer from Haysville.
“Calin will be our number four player,” Coach Kaiser said. “He is another low 70’s golfer.”
Christian VanNover and Riley Kane are two sophomores returning that should help the team. Kaiser said they were shooting very well at the end of last year and have improved over the summer.
Another newcomer that should make some noise is freshman Jacob Uhrmacher from Augusta.
“He is a lefty that shoots in the mid 70’s,” Coach Kaiser said. “Eight or 10 years ago, that would have been the best score on the team.”
The season will get started Monday and Tuesday in Bartlesville, Okla. in a meet hosted by Coffeyville. Barton will take two teams the meet, scoring an A and B team.