The No. 12 ranked Barton Community College women's golf team held off a late push Saturday to secure its second straight conference victory, edging the field by a single stroke at KJCCC Meet #3 held at Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course in Hays.
Battling brisk conditions across both days, the Cougars navigated a chilly start Friday with temperatures in the low 40s and winds ranging from 15-25 mph before slightly improved conditions Saturday in the 50s with 10-20 mph winds. Barton carried an eight-stroke lead into the final round following Friday's 54-over 338 and trimmed four strokes off that total on Saturday to finish at 104-over 672.
No. 17 Dodge City made a strong final round push behind a 43-over 327 but came up one stroke shy at 105-over 673, while No. 15 Garden City placed third at 114-over 682. No. 26 Coffeyville did not post a team score in both rounds.
Among the defining moments of the tournament, none loomed larger than Panalee Prachavittayagon's opening round ace. The freshman from Thailand delivered a hole-in-one on the 137-yard 18th hole using a 9-iron, highlighting her 10-over 81 and placing her in second after day one. The ace marked the third in program history, joining Kadynce Nash's achievement last season and Leeseo Park's in 2016.
Prachavittayagon followed with one of the tournament's top rounds on Saturday, firing a 5-over 76—five strokes better than her nearest competitor and two shots clear of the next best round—to capture her first collegiate tournament title at 15-over 157, leading the 22-player field.
Competing as an individual, Giovanna Tabanag turned in her best performance of the spring, carding rounds of 81 and 86 to finish tied for fourth at 25-over 167. Chomchanok Laparojkit followed in a tie for sixth at 27-over 169 (83-86).
Suri Rocha Orozco and Alexandria Hunt each finished tied for 10th at 30-over 172. Rocha Orozco paired rounds of 87 and 85, while Hunt opened with an 84 to sit fifth after the first round before closing with an 88.
Diana Alvarado delivered consistent rounds of 87 to place tied for 12th at 32-over 174, while Alexandria Baxter rounded out the Cougars' lineup with an 18th place finish at 45-over 187 (91-96).
Winning two of the three conference meets this spring, Barton now turns its focus to the upcoming Region 6/Plains District Championships scheduled for April 27-28 at Sugar Hills Golf Club in Goodland, Kansas.
Barton Scores & Placings
1st: Panalee Prachavittayagon +15, 157 (81-76)
T-4th: Giovanna Tabanag +25, 167 (81-86)
T-6th: Chomchanok Laparojkit +27, 169 (83-86)
T-10th: Suri Rocha Orozco +30, 172 (87-85) and Alexandria Hunt +30, 172 (84-88)
T-12th: Diana Alvarado +32, 174 (87-87)
18th: Alexandria Baxter +45, 187 (91-96)
Team Scores1st - #12 Barton CC +104, 672 (338-334)
2nd - #17 Dodge City CC +105, 673 (346-327)
3rd - #15 Garden City CC +114, 682 (348-334)
DNP - #26 Coffeyville CC (479-n/a)