An inexperienced Barton Community College women's golf team opened up their 2022-23 season rolling to a 64-stroke victory at the Hesston Fall Kickoff held at Hesston's Municipal Golf Course.
Fielding a squad of all but one sophomore, the Cougars posted a Monday opening round of 34-over 318 for a thirty stroke advantage before returning Tuesday with an eight shot improvement of 26-over 310 in widening their tournament winning margin with a final 60-over 628 team score. Central Christian College led the three remaining teams in the field with a 124-over 692, Hastings College placed third at 163-over 731, and Murray State College rounded out the field at 199-over 767.
A trio of freshman Cougars took the top three spots of the twenty-six participant field, led by the debut performance of Yu Wei Chiang. Playing an even-par 71 on Monday, Chiang posted a 75 on Tuesday to win the event by 8 strokes with a 4-over 146. Saya Schweitzer moved up a spot in the final round with a 75 after an opening 79 to finish runner-up at 12-over 154.
Making the largest jump up the leaderboard was Valentina Leyva, following an opening 83 in climbing three spots with a final round best score of 2-over 73 to finish just two shots behind Schweitzer in third place at 14-over 156.
Cracking the top ten in a tie for ninth place, Andrea Peraza carded 85 and 88 rounds for a 31-over 173. Four strokes behind in 11th was the Cougars' lone sophomore entry Paulina Villavicencio following an opening 90 with an improved 87 in moving up two spots with a combined 35-over 177.
Katina Bartel led a trio of Cougars rounding out Barton entries, tied at 17th with twin 94 rounds for a 46-over 188. Great Bend native Allyson Kaiser matched Leyva's second round improvement of ten strokes in bouncing back from a 103 with a 93 to place 20th at 54-over 196. Lillyan Kimberlin also made a big improvement of nine strokes on Tuesday with a 99 to finish 25th at 65-over 207.
Barton will have a couple of weeks before their next tournament September 12-13 at the Central Kansas Classic held at McPherson's Turkey Creek Golf Course.
Hesston Fall Kickoff results: Team Individuals
