Peerada Piddon had a pretty good beginning to the national championship. The Thailand freshman had a solid first day at the NJCAA Championships, really finding her stroke on the back nine as the Barton women’s golf team opened play in Florida.
Piddon paced the Cougars during the opening day at LPGA International Golf Course in Daytona Beach during the NJCAA Championships. Piddon shot a 3-over par 75 to place her in a tie for eighth place.
Piddon really lit up the backside, shooting a 1-under 35 after a 40 on the opening nine. It was the second best score of the day on the back nine.
Six of the top seven are from hometown school Daytona State and home state school Seminole State. Those two are in a battle for the lead at 291 and 292 after one day. McLennan College of Texas is solidly in third at 300. The next closest school is at 331.
Barton currently sits 11th with a 367. The Cougars are just four strokes from 10th, currently held by Rend Lake (Ill) at 363.
Three players sit under par after one day, led by Daytona State’s Katie Veale at 4-under 68. Nichada Satasuk of Seminole State is a couple strokes back at 2-under 70. Roanne Tomlinson of McLennan is 1-under 71.
Piddon was the only Cougars to break 90 during the day. Leeseo Park struggled on the front side, shooting 49-43 – 92. Barton’s other three players were flirting with 100. Bailey Gage shot a 51-48 for a 99 while Daleen Turner shot 52—49 – 101 and McKenzie Fabrizius 50-52 – 102.
Piddon has a familiar face with her in eighth place as Jayhawk conference foe and rival Orakorn Thirayatorn of Dodge City shot a 37-38 for a 75 as well. Four players are tied for the eighth spot after one day.
Team Scores
1. Daytona State (Fla)    291
2. Seminole State (Fla)   292
3. McLennan (Texas)       300
4. Redlands (Okla)        331
5. Western Texas          332
6. Tyler (Texas)          335
7. Mesa (Ariz)            336
8. Iowa Western           337
9. Murray State (Okla)    343
10. Rend Lake (Ill)       363
11. Barton                367
12. John A Logan (Ill)    369
13. Des Moines Area (Iowa) 370
14. Pima (Ariz)           374
15. Wallace State (Ala)   385
16. Sandhills (X)         399
17. Otero (Texas)         424
Top 20 Individuals
1. Katie Veale, Daytona St               34-34 – 68
2. Nichada Satasuk, Seminole St          34-36 – 70
3. Roanne Tomlinson, McLennan            36-35 – 71
4. Ji Sun Kang, Daytona St               37-35 – 72
4. Sarah Harrison, Seminole St           36-36 – 72
6. Kaye Kwon, Daytona St                 36-37 – 73
7. Josefine Garton, Seminole St          36-38 – 74
8. Peerada Piddon, Barton                40-35 – 75
8. Orakorn Thirayatorn, Dodge            37-38 – 75
8. Damla Bilgic, Iowa Western            38-37 – 75
8. Savannah Moody, McLennan              37-38 – 75
12. Cynthia Bounleutay, Seminole St      39-37 – 76
12 Sofia Alvarez, Western Texas          38-38 – 76
12. Bo Young Park, Tyler                 39-37 – 76
15. Lydia Traylor, McLennan              39-38 – 77
15. Marion Benzekri, Redlands            37-40 – 77
15. Gianti Mahardhika, McLennan          38-39 – 77
18. Cristine Lee, Daytona St             40-38 – 78
19. Jill Harvison, Mesa                  39-40 – 79
19. Desiree Hong, Pima                   40-39 – 79
19. Elodie Jane Yates, Murray St         40-39 – 79
19. Janelle Johnson, Seminole St         40-39 – 79
11 Barton (367)
8. Peerada Piddon        40-35 – 75
57. Leeseo Park          49-43 – 92
82. Bailey Gage          51-48 – 99
91. Daleen Turner        52-49 – 101
95. McKenzie Fabrizius   50-52 – 102