By TODD MOORE
Barton Sports Info
For the third straight conference meet of the season, the 14th ranked Barton Community College women's golf team placed runner-up, the latest coming Saturday wrapping up play in the two-day KJCCC Meet #3 held at Emporia's Municipal Golf Course.
The Cougars trailed by just three after Friday's 29-over 313 round but despite a consistent 31-over 315 on Saturday slid further behind 8th ranked Dodge City Community College as the Conquistadors posted 310 and 302 cards finishing sixteen strokes better at a 44-over 612 total.
Finishing 2nd in the overall KJCCC standings, Barton now begins final preparation for post-season play with National tournament berths on the line beginning April 29th in the two-day Region VI/Plains District Championships held at Dodge City's Mariah Hills Golf Course.
Victorious at the previous conference meet, nationally 4th ranked Butpapaporn Sukterm finished just a shot behind in second place at 2-over 144. Carding a 2-over 73 opening round, Sukterm's even par 71 on Saturday was matched by Garden City's 42nd ranked Kanchana Kanchanaphilboo in holding on for the title at 1-over 143.
Valentina Leyva's twin 5-over 76 cards kept the nation's 56th ranked player steady in the 5th overall position at 10-over 155 as 51st ranked Andrea Peraza slid out of the top ten with 82 and 81 cards for a 21-over 163 accumulation.
One spot below on the leaderboard in 12th at 27-over 169 was Frida Mondragon, opening with a 82 before falling three spots with a closing 87.
Alayna Crosby finished in the 17th position at 46-over 188 following a 95 first day card in following with a two-stroke improvement of 93.
Barton scores and placings:
2nd Butpapaporn Sukterm (+2, 73-71)
5th Valentina Leyva (+10, 76-76)
11th Andrea Peraza (+21, 82-81)
12th Frida Mondragon (+27, 82-87)
17th Alayna Crosby (+46, 95-93)