Barton women's golf qualifies five for National tournament in Region VI runner-up placing #GoBarton
Barton women's golf qualifies five for National tournament in Region VI runner-up placing
The Barton Community College women's golf team finished runner-up Saturday in the Region VI Championship played at Hutchinson's Carey Park Golf Course.
The Cougars trailed by just four strokes after Friday's opening round but the two top teams went opposite direction on Saturday. Barton carded a first round 324 but lost seven strokes in the final round with a 331 while Dodge City followed its 320 opener with a solid 307 to tack on twenty-four more strokes for a 59-over 627 winning score over the Cougars' 87-over 655. Fort Scott placed third with 374-376 rounds to finish at 182-over 750.
Barton held the top two individual slots after the first round with Mathanee Pandee's 4-over 75 one stroke ahead of Mia Trousdale. The pair slid to 3rd and 4th with 82 and 83 rounds, completing the 36-hole tournament at 15-over 157 and 17-over 159 respectively.
The Conquistadors' duo of Tanika Yadilokwong and Thitapha Iamtragul each shot a closing even par 71 to leapfrog the Cougars in the standings. Yadilokwong opened with a 5-over 76 to fire the final round score to take the title at 5-over 147 while Iamtragul put the opening 78 round in the taillights to finish runner-up at 7-over 149.
Following Trousdale in fourth, Dodge City's Alyssa McMillen grabbed the 5th spot with twin 80 rounds for a 18-over 160 total. 
Paulina Villavicencio and the Conquistadors' Caelyn Cook tied for 6th at 29-over 171, each taking different paths as Villiavicencio made a seven stroke improvement in the final round (89-82) while Cook stayed steady with 86-85 rounds.
Paige Barnes placed 8th at 31-over 173, birdying the par-3 11th hole on Friday from the fringe in shooting an 84 before closing on an 89.
Grabbing the final two spots to qualify for nationals, Pawinee Sukasem and Fort Scott's Marcy McDonald totaled 32-over 174 on the card. Sukasem shaved six strokes from her opening 90 to card an 84 while McDonald strung 88 and 86 scores to earn the Florida trip.
Barton and Dodge City, along with the top ten placers will spend the next few weeks preparing for the NJCAA Division I Women's Golf Championships held May 10-13 at Plantation Bay Golf and Country Club located in Ormond Beach, Florida.