The Barton Community College women's golf team leads by twenty-six strokes after Friday's first round of the Region VI Championships taking place at Hutchinson's Carey Park Golf Course. In perfect weather conditions, Barton blistered the course with a team score of 325 through the first eighteen holes leading second place conference co-champion Dodge City Community College's 351 and the 373 posted by Coffeyville Community College. The Lady Cougars, who won the last two conference meets to tie Dodge City for the conference title, are seeking their fourth straight Region VI Championship while punching their ticket to the NJCAA Division I Championships if able to hold the lead. Play resumes on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. with a final round of eighteen holes.
Five Lady Cougars dotted the individual standings after the first day of competition led by Leeseo Park's 3-over 74. Park birdied the No. 7 with a chip-in from the fringe but her highlight of the round would come on the No. 8 as the South Korean freshman aced the 131 yard hole leading to a 1-under par front nine score. Making school history with the first ace in competition, Park also etched her name in Carey Park Golf Course history being the first ace during a collegiate competition at the course.
Park went on to card a 3-over 39 on the back nine to finish the day one stroke ahead of teammate Peerada Piddon's 4-over 75. Piddon, who aside from Park's eighth hole eagle had two of the field's five birdies on the day, began and ended her front nine with birdies to post 1-over 37 before closing with a 38 on the back nine. The Thailand freshman leads the Thailand freshmen duo from Dodge City by four strokes as Orakorn Thirayatorn posted a back nine low of 37 to finish at 79 while Rachanok Rahulpan had consistent 41 rounds for an 82.
The Lady Cougars are in the next three spots in the individual standings with Mackenzie Fabrizius leading the way with an 87. Bailey Gage posted an 89 while individualist Daleen Turner is in a three-way tie at 90.
Joining Turner in the seventh spot is a pair of Red Ravens, Julia Dierker and Cheyenne Musser, while teammate Karah Bassett's 91 sits in the tenth spot.
Team Standings (Thru first 18 Holes):
Barton CC - 325
Dodge City CC – 351
Coffeyville CC – 373
Individual Standings (Thru first 18 Holes):
1. Leeseo Park (Barton) – 74
2. Peerada Piddon (Barton) – 75
3. Orakorn Thirayatorn (Dodge City) – 79
4. Rachanok Rahulpan (Dodge City) – 82
5. Mackenzie Fabrizius (Barton) – 87
6. Bailey Gage (Barton) – 89
7. Daleen Turner (Barton), Julia Dierker (Coffeyville), and Cheyenne Musser (Coffeyville) - 90
10. Karah Bassett (Coffeyville) – 91