The 12th ranked Barton Community College men's golf team led through both rounds of the Ranger Invitational in Enid, Oklahoma, clinching their third victory in closing out the fall portion of the schedule.
The Cougars held a five stroke lead after Monday's round at the Meadowlake Golf Course by accumulating a 1-over par 285. Looking to hold off Southeastern Oklahoma State University for the title, Barton held steady through cooler temperatures and tougher pin placements by adding another stroke to its lead behind a 298 round in finishing at 15-over 583. Southeastern's 21-over 589 took runner-up honors of the eleven team field with fellow Region VI member and 15th ranked Garden City Community College coming in third six strokes back at 27-over 595.
It took a playoff hole to decide the individual crown of sixty-seven participant field after Ethan Bonnett and Southeastern senior Justice Hartman ended the thirty-six holes tied at 1-over 143. Bonnett posted a collegiate career best 2-under 69 in leading the field by one after the first round but Hartman's final round 73 gained the stroke tying the pair up. Following Bonnett's first playoff hole miss Bidding for his tournament leading 8th birdie, Bonnett's 25-foot attempt missed its marked as Hartman's draining of a 17-foot putt claimed the win and spoiled the Cougar's first tournament victory.
Overall, the Cougars placed all five of its team members in the top sixteen of the field. Axel Bolander and Tom Lehmann each opened with an even-par 71, Bolander separating on Tuesday's 74 card for a 3rd place tie at 3-over 145 while Lehmann slipped down into the 5th spot tie with a 75 for a 4-over 146.
Otto Heden gave Barton their fourth member among the top-seven, putting together 74 and 75 rounds in holding steady in 7th at 7-over 149. Warathan Thamachok rounded out the team entries in 16th with 76 and 77 scores for an 11-over 153.
A pair of Cougar individualists competed in the tournament with Keegan O'Shea placing 56th following 87 and 84 cards for a 29-over 171 while Anthony Arriola followed a 93 with a seven stroke improvement 86 to finish in 63rd at 37-over 179.
Barton will now enter the approximate four month off-season before gearing up for conference play in the spring and looking to make a national tournament appearance.
Ranger Invitational results: Team Individuals
