Getting off to a slow start on the first day of the Region VI Championship, the Barton Community College women's golf team rallied to win the title at Hutchinson's Carey Park Golf Course by two strokes. Trailing by eleven strokes after nine holes in Sunday's competition, Barton rallied in the back nine holes to build a four stroke lead heading into Monday's final round. Battling Dodge City Community College throughout the day, the Cougars held on to win their second region title in three years to go along with the regular season conference crown achieved earlier in the month. Barton also had four freshmen finish in the top ten which qualifies the Cougars for individual and team competition in the NJCAA Women's Golf National Championship held at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona, May 13-16.
The Lady Cougars' four stroke lead held off Dodge City 714-716 while Colby Community College finished in third place with a thirty-six hole score of 763. Hutchinson freshman Kara Koepplin, who won the final conference meet of the season, led four Barton golfers in the top ten by shooting a 172 to finish in fourth place. Kaylee Crawford, a freshman from Henryetta, Oklahoma, finished in a three-way tie for fifth place with a 176 while Wichita freshman Staisha Miller's 183 and Andover freshman Maddie Sherman's 184 were good for eighth and ninth place respectively.
After posting an opening round of 97, Larned freshman Katie Seeman made a second day charge to fire an 89 for a total of 186 to move up to eleventh place. Despite narrowly missing out of national qualifying by one stroke, Seeman's second day performance helped lift the team to the region crown. Fellow freshman Blakelee Cooper also fell just shy of qualifying as the Hoisington native posted a 187. Rounding out the Barton scoring was Topeka sophomore Kaylee Rudolph with a 190 and Maize freshman Abbie Roth shaving eight strokes off her first day performance to finish with a 200.
Team Standings:
Barton CC - 714
Dodge City CC – 716
Coffeyville CC – 763
Top 10 Individual Standings:
T-1. Kaylee Keck (Colby) and Annie Sheridan (Dodge) – 167
3. Shanell Hensley (Dodge) – 171
4. Kara Koepplin (Barton) – 172
T-5. Kaylee Crawford (Barton), Jackie Cloyd (Coffeyville), and Jaclyn McCauley (Colby) – 176
8. Staisha Miller (Barton) – 183
9. Maddie Sherman (Barton) - 184
10. Lakin Ubert (Dodge) – 185