17th ranked Barton men's golf places sixth at nationally packed District Championships #GoBarton
17th ranked Barton men’s golf places sixth at nationally packed District Championships.
Competing against some of the nation's top junior college golfers and within the six NJCAA Top-20 teams, the 17th ranked Barton Community College men's squad finished 6th Tuesday at the Region VI/Central District Championships held over two days at Wichita's Crestview Country Club.
The Cougars held steady in the sixth spot following Monday's 305 and 306 rounds, slipping into a tie for the slot following a final round 314 to finish at 61-over 925 for the tournament in being joined by Kansas City Kansas Community College.
Twenty-six strokes behind 5th place and 19th nationally ranked Iowa Western's 35-over 899 for the District's final top five automatic national qualifiers, Barton now awaits the possibility of receiving one of the two at-large national wild cards.
Dodge City's 4th ranked Conquistadors led the six nationally ranked teams with a 13-over 877 with 7th ranked Indian Hills six strokes behind at 883. Two-time defending national champions and top ranked Hutchinson's slow start led to a third place 28-over 892 in overtaking 13th ranked Garden City's 32-over 896.
Tom Lehmann led the Cougars' five entries in the 62-man field with a 27th placing, climbing an incredible twenty-one spots up the leaderboard following an opening 10-over par 82. Making a big leap in Monday's afternoon round firing a 1-over 73, the sophomore completed his vault in Tuesday morning's final round card of 2-over 74 to finish the tournament at 13-over 229.
Ethan Bonnett and Otto Heden were one stroke behind in a tie for 29th at 14-over 230. The pair were in the 13th spot after opening 2-over 74 cards but each slid down the leaderboard in the afternoon trip around the course as Heden's 5-over 77 dropped to 16th while Bonnett's 7-over 79 moved to the 23rd spot. Trading results on Tuesday, Bonnett's 77 moved up six slots to 29th while Heden's closing 79 tumbled twelve spots.
Tanapoom Kaewjoey carded consistent 78 and 77 rounds on Monday before sliding six spots into 41st overall with an 84 to finish at 23-over 239.
Fresh off a tremendous 72-hole card for a 3rd place finish last week at the KJCCC Championship, Worathan Thammachokecharoen's momentum did not ride along this week as a pair of 79 Monday cards followed by a final round 87 left the freshman in 50th place at 29-over 245.
Barton Results:
T27 Tom Lehmann +13, 229 (82-73-74)
T29 Ethan Bonnett +14, 230 (74-79-77) and Otto Heden +14, 230 (74-77-79)
41st Tanapoom Kaewjoey +23, 239 (78-77-84)
50th Worathan Thammachokecharoen +29, 245 (79-79-87)
2023 Region VI/Central District Championship Results: Team Individuals