HUTCHINSON — The Barton Community College women’s golf team won a National Junior College Athletic Association Region VI title on Monday.
The Lady Cougars beat Dodge City by two strokes, carding a 714.
“After the first day, we were up by four strokes,” Barton head coach Doug Kaiser said. “Then we end up winning by two strokes. I kept telling the girls that every stroke counts. Well, there you go.”
Along with the Region VI title, Barton qualified four golfers for the national championship, which will be held on May 13-16 at Longbow Golf Course in Mesa, Ariz. To qualify, athletes had to finish in the top 10.
“It’s the third straight year that we’ve qualified a full team,” Kaiser said, “which is great. We’ll be able to compete individually and as a team. The girls are very excited about it.”
The Lady Cougar might even be able to take a fifth.
“Katie Seeman finished 11th,” said Kaiser, who has coached at Barton for five years. “Dodge City qualified three, Colby qualified two and Coffeyville qualified one. If Coffeyville decides not to send their one golfer, than we’ll get to send an alternate, which is Katie. If that happens, we’ll get to send five to the national tournament, which is something that we haven’t done since I’ve been here.”
Kara Koepplin led Barton with a 172 for fourth place.
Kaylee Crawford took fifth (176), Staisha Miller captured eighth (183) and Maddie Sherman finished ninth (184).

                                                                            — Kevin Price

JUNIOR COLLEGE GOLF
National Junior College Athletic Association Region VI Tournament

WOMEN

At Hutchinson

Sunday-Monday

Team scores
1. Barton, 714; 2. Dodge City, 716; 3. Colby, 763

Barton results
4. Kara Koepplin, 87-85—172; 5. Kaylee Crawford, 89-87—176; 8. Staisha Miller, 89-94—183; 9. Maddie Sherman, 93-91—184; Katie Seeman, 97-89—186; Blakelee Cooper, 93-96—187; Kaylee Rudolph, 94-96—190; Abbie Roth, 100-96—196