Posting program record best performances, the Barton Community College men's golf team led wire-to-wire of the two-day Carmichael Cup in claiming the title by six strokes Tuesday.
The Cougars led the field with 49 birdies, opening the three rounds with a season second best 281 score but came back in the afternoon round with an even better 272 team accumulation to break the program single round record of 275 set in the fall portion of the 2015-16 season on the same Salina Municipal Golf Course. Leading by three into Tuesday's final round, the Cougars carded a 280 for another program record, setting the three-round bar at a now 7-under 833.
Barton's victory is the first of the season after finishing runner-up in the previous two, outpacing the second place Swedes of Bethany College who completed the tournament at 1-under 839 (283-273-283). The Cougars also had a second team entered, finishing 10th of the 13 team field with an 89-over 926 (305-309-315).
Four Cougars finished in the top nine of the seventy-participant field as Barton went 1-2-3 in the standings led by Warathan Thamachok's tournament second best 13 birdies in compiling a winning 4-under 206 posting twin 68's on either side of Monday afternoon's 70 card.
In addition to the team accomplishments, Axel Bolander also made program history in firing a second round 6-under 64 in bettering Natchapol Srinoon's 65 set at the 2015 KWU Invitational. Srinoon led the Cougars to its best ever two-round score of 9-under 551 by holding the program record 9-under two-round individual score.
Bolander, who opened with a 73 and closed with an even par 70, tied with teammate Otto Heden for runner-up at 3-under 207 by leading the field playing 1-under on the par 4's and chalking up 15 birdies in the three rounds. After posting a pair of 70's on Monday, Heden made a five spot move up the chart with a final round tournament low of 3-under 67 to finish in the second place tie, in part to a field third best 8-under on the par 5's and one eagle.
Leading the field with two eagles, Tom Lehmann was one of seven participants to shoot even par in Monday's morning round before firing a 2-under 68 to wrap up the day but fell down the leaderboard on Tuesday into 9th place on a closing 76 to finish at 4-over 214.
Rounding out the "A" Team's entrants, Tanapoom Kaewjoey followed an opening 78 with a pair of 75 cards to place 41st at 18-over 228.
Leading the "B" Team was Ethan Bonnett's 32nd placing 15-over 225, playing a tournament 8th best on the par 3's and carding a 9th best nine birdies within his 74-71-80 rounds.
In other placings, Thantup Saengvut finished in 53rd at 26-over 233 (76-81-79), Anthony Arriola one spot behind in 54th at 27-over 237 (78-78-81), Keegan O'Shea in 59th at 30-over 240 (77-87-76), and Laken Smith in 60th at 35-over 245 (86-79-80).
The Cougars return to action next Tuesday in being joined by colleges around the country for the NJCAA National Championship Preview held over two days at Newton's Sand Creek Station Golf Course.
Carmichael Cup results: Team Individuals
