Having swept all six conferences this season, it would have been easy for Barton Community College women’s golf team to prematurely celebrate a third straight trip to Nationals. Even with a thirty-five stroke lead after day one, the focused Lady Cougars widened the gap as everyone improved during Saturday’s final round at Hutchinson’s Carey Park Golf Course for a seventy-four stroke victory in winning its third straight Region VI Championship and earning an automatic team berth to the NJCAA Championships. Shaving fifteen strokes off the previous day’s eighteen hole score, Barton shot a 332 to finish with a 36-hole total of 679 to easily outdistance second place Dodge City Community College for the title.
Barton’s Natthakan Teeratrakul, who won all six conferences meets, won her seventh tournament of the season bouncing back from an off-day 81 firing a 76 in the final round to win the title by six strokes with a 157.
Tied with Teeratrakul after the first eighteen, teammate Hye Rin Kim‘ four putt seventeenth cost her a second place finish as the freshman’s 82 ended up tying Coffeyville Community College’s Julia Dierker for second place at 163. Dierker, who trailed the leaders by one after the first round, finished with an 81 to force the playoff. As each missed ten foot putts on the first playoff hole, Dierker played a near flawless second hole draining an eight foot birdie capturing the second spot.
Abbie Thelen tied for the biggest improvement during the final round as the sophomore followed her 92 with an 84 to finish fifth. Seven strokes behind in sixth, Madison Walden posted rounds of 93 and 90 for a final 183. Madison Werth‘s final round 92 moved up one spot in the standings with a 188 for eighth place. Competing as an individual, Lea Clubb followed an opening 106 with a 104 to finish the freshman’s season with a 210.
Finishing in a school record ninth place at last year’s National Championship in Florida, the Lady Cougars will head to Mesa, Arizona, for this year’s NJCAA Women’s Golf Championship being held May 11-14 at the Longbow Golf Course.
Team Standings (Final – 36 Holes):
Barton CC – 679
Dodge City CC – 754
Individual Standings (Final – 36 Holes):
1. Natthakan Teeratrakul (Barton) – 157
2. Julia Dierker (Coffeyville) – 163 *Won playoff on second hole
3. Hye Rin Kim (Barton) – 163
4. Tiarra Diaz (Dodge City) – 174
5. Abbie Thelen (Barton) – 176
6. Madison Walden (Barton) – 183
7. Haley Montoya (Dodge City) – 187
8. Madison Werth (Barton) – 188
9. McKenzie Haar-Becker (Dodge City) – 191
10. Marissa Bland (Colby) – 195
