Efraimsson's title leads 12th ranked Barton women's golf to Sterling Spring Invitational runner-up finish #GoBarton

The 12th ranked Barton Community College women's golf team finished runner-up today by two strokes in the Sterling College Spring Invitational held the past two days at Hutchinson's Carey Park Golf Course.

Carding rounds of 327 and 322, the Lady Cougars' thirty-six hole 649 was two strokes shy of the title as the University of Jamestown gained separation with a 320 final round score for the title. Kansas Wesleyan University, who led the tournament by five strokes after Monday's opening round, slipped to the third spot of the eight team field with a 335 to finish at 657.

Carding a birdie and thirteen pars in Monday's round, Vilma Efraimsson was tied atop the leaderboard with a 3-over par 75. One of just three players to break 80 in today's final round, Efraimsson's day two tournament low 6-over 78 added separation in the standings for a four stroke victory in winning the Sweden freshman's second straight tournament and third of the year.

Fellow freshman Mutita Booranakunamanee also knocked in thirteen first day pars but slipped one place in the standings as the final round 81 was one stroke out of a two-way tie for second in the fourth place 14-over 158 score.

Lucia Rodriguez Zapico had the biggest jump for the Lady Cougars on the final leaderboard, draining two birdies in joining Efraimsson and Jamestown's Alexis Piatz with the day two low score of 78. Carding an opening 88, the 6-over par final round moved the sophomore from Argentina from 17th into a 9th place tie at 22-over 166.

Kendra Jellison played the Par 3's at 3-over during the two days, posting consistent rounds of 87 and 85 for a 28-over 172 to crack the top thirteen of the forty-two golfer field while Miranda Kern rounded out the "A" Team squad with a pair of 90's on the card for 22nd place.

Team "B" was led by Delaney Smith with a 30th place 191 as the Hoisington freshman sank two birdies on Monday for an opening 92 before posting a 99 on Tuesday. Amy Akler shaved six strokes off Monday's round to close with a 93 and one stroke behind Smith in a 34th placing while Gracen Haar-Becker also improved in the final eighteen carding a 97 for a 198 total.

Making the largest improvement between the two rounds, Taylor Becker erased Monday's memories with an eleven stroke better score of 98 to place 40th at 207, with Sydney Kirmse placing 42nd at 211.

Barton will have a couple of days rest before getting back to the links on Thursday in Dodge City as the Lady Cougars rejoin with conference foes for the two day KJCCC #2 Tournament. First tee set for 1:00 p.m. Thursday at Mariah Hills Golf Course with Friday's final round beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Complete Sterling Spring Invitational results