The Barton Community College women's golf team opened the 2023-24 season in dominating fashion cruising to an 89-stroke victory at the 2nd Annual Fall Hesston Kickoff held at Hesston's Municipal Golf Course.
Returning just two sophomores off last season's 6th place team, the Cougars jumped out to an opening round 54-stroke advantage firing off a 33-over 317 before adding six extra strokes to Tuesday's round carding a 39-over 323 in settling their tournament wining margin with a 72-over 640 team score. Murray State College finished in the runner-up spot with a 161-over 729 while conference foe Fort Scott Community College concluded the field turning in a two-round total 168-over 736.
Barton took the top three spots and four of the top five individual spots in the 19-participant field, led by freshman Butpapaporn Sukterm. Carding a two-over par 73 in the opening round, Sukterm improved in final round action with an even-par 71 to win the event by 13 strokes with a 2-over 144. Valentina Leyva held steady in the runner-up spot shooting rounds of 8-over 79 and 7-over 78 for a 15-over 157 finish.
Sophomore Andrea Peraza played the most consistent rounds for the Cougars, carding a pair of 10-over 81's for a third-place finish 20-over 162 edging out Avery Scott's 21-over 163, of Fort Scott.
Frida Mondragon concluded the top-five placing for Barton firing a fifth place 22-over 177 carding 84 and 93 rounds for a 22-over 177.
Freshman Alayna Crosby had the biggest jump up the leaderboard, following an opening 100 in climbing two spots with a final round 23-over 94 to conclude her debut tournament tied for 11th at 52-over 194.
Brenna Ruyle was the fourth Cougar to show improvement in second round action by four strokes in bouncing back from a 101 with a 97 to place 14th at 56-over 198.
Barton will return to action in traveling to Hutchinson's Carey Park Golf Course for the Kansas Women's Collegiate held September 5th-6th.