The Barton Community College men's golf team led the final two rounds of the 2nd Annual Hesston Fall Kickoff in closing with a 16-stroke title margin at the Hesston Golf Course.
Barton opened the two day 11-team kickoff with a second best first round 293, sitting four strokes back after Monday's morning round before taking the lead firing off a tournament best afternoon score of 285. The gritty Cougars returned to the course for Tuesday morning's final round, shooting another round best 287 to clinch the tournament at 13-over 865, 16-strokes better than host Hesston College's 881.
Three Cougars placed inside the top-11 of the 65-individual field. Sitting in second four strokes back after a 2-over 73 in Monday's opening round, Axel Bolander settled in shooting back-to-back under par rounds with a 5-under 66 and 3-under 68 finishing as the tournament champion with a 6-under par 207 earning a two-stroke victory over Blake Buessing's 4-under 209 of Fort Scott.
Kaleb Lambert finished his first tournament as a Cougar tying for sixth with a 4-over 217 behind rounds of 71-73-73. Inside the top-10 following Monday's 77 and 69 scores, Simon Strandberg slipped just outside tying for 11th when the dust settled following a 75-final round, compiling a 4-over 221.
Tanapoom Kaewjoey carded the fourth team score for the Cougars finishing in a three-way tie for 17th place 11-over 224. Thantup Saengvut, who competed as an individual and not in the Barton team scoring, opened his tournament with his best round 71 before carding a 75 and 81 for a 14-over 227 and 21st placing.
Martin Chevallier fired off the most consistent rounds recording a 75-77-76 for a 25th finish at 15-over 228.
Joining Saengvut as an individual entry, Anthony Arriola concluded the placings with a 51st performance at 30-over 243.
Barton's next meet comes next week in traveling to Hutchinson's Crazy Horse Golf Course for the two-day Crazy Horse Challenge held September 5th-6th.