COFFEYVILLE – Three conference tournaments into the season the Barton women’s golf team is the pursuer.
After dominating the Jayhawk Conference last season and winning the region and conference the past three seasons, the Cougars find themselves doing the chasing this season.
Barton won the first meet of the season – by a single shot on its home course. The Cougars have since finished second in back-to-back events to Dodge City.
The latest of those wrapped up Monday at the Coffeyville Country Club. Dodge City won the meet with a team total of 510. Barton was second at 523 over the 27-hole event.
Like the meet before Barton’s Peerada Piddon battled for the individual title with a Dodge City golfer. This time, though, Piddon held off her foes.
Piddon opened with a 4-over Par 72 Sunday during the 18-hole play then wrapped up with a 6-over 42 Monday. That 10-over total was good enough to win the event. It is her second win in the three events.
Her 118 bested the 119 turned in by Rachanok Rahulpan of Dodge, who opened with a 79 then came back to with a 40 but fell just short.
Julie Dierker of host Coffeyville was third with a 122. It was another close fight for that third spot. Orakorn Thirayatorn of Dodge was fourth at 123 and Leeseo Park of Barton fifth at 124.
Barton’s Bailey Gage and Mackenzie Fabrizius both earned top 10 spots as well. Gage shot 91-48—139 for eighth while Fabrizius shot 103-45—148 for 10th.
The Barton all freshman contingent concluded with Barton’s Natalie Fish at 151. The Cougars used her 97 the opening day but she fell back to 54 the second day.
Barton trailed by 14 strokes after the first day of play and could only gain one stroke the following morning for the runner-up spot.
Taylor Overlees and Daleen Turner both played as individuals for the Cougars. Overlees shot a 100-52—152 while Turner went 105-55—160.
The event concluded the fall portion of the schedule. The Cougars will start things back up in March with the first of three more conference events.