The Barton Community College men's golf team's rally of a sixteen stroke disadvantage fell three strokes short in finishing runner-up at the Hesston Fall Kickoff held at Hesston's Municipal Golf Course to open the 2022-23 season.
The Cougars opened Monday's morning round with a 19-over 303 before firing an afternoon round of 287 in moving up two spots to third and ten strokes back. Returning to the course Tuesday morning for a final round, the Cougars posted another round best score of 288 to gain a spot in the standings but coming up shy with a combined 26-over 878. Hastings College took over the lead after Monday's round before holding on with a 295 to better the Cougars by three strokes with a 23-over 875.
Three Cougars placed among the top ten of seventy-two participant field. Otto Heden led the trio with consistent rounds including a final round low of 1-under 70 to finish 3rd at 1-over 214 as Axel Bolander jumped nine spots up the leaderboard from his opening round in matching Heden's final round score in placing 4th at 5-over 218. Sophomore Tom Lehmann joined the pair in the top ten with a 9th place finish, climbing eighteen spots from Monday morning to post a final tally of 8-over 221.
Warathan Thamachok climbed six spots into a tie for 16th at 12-over 225 while Ethan Bonnett just missed the top twenty with a 15-over 228 to finish tied for 21st.
Another pair of Cougars made large improvements up the board from their debut round, Thantup Saengvut climbing nine spots to a tie for 49th at 33-over 246 as Anthony Arriola leapt a team second best thirteen slots to 52nd with a 37-over 250. Laken Smith finished in the 60th spot climbing three spots in his final round with an 81 for a 45-over 258. Tanapoom Kaewjoey, who did not compete on Monday, carded a 4-over 75 in his lone round on Tuesday.
The Cougar men will again join their women teammates for their next tournament being held September 12-13 at the Central Kansas Classic held at McPherson's Turkey Creek Golf Course.
Hesston Fall Kickoff results: Team Individuals
