By TODD MOORE
Barton Sports Info
The 14th ranked Barton Community College women's golf team possibly concluded their season on Tuesday with a third place finish at the Region VI/Plains District Championship held at Dodge City's Mariah Hills Golf Course.
The placing puts the Cougars in the waiting game of the NJCAA's announcement the week of May 6th of a possible at-large berth to the national tournament.
Punching her national ticket was the continued solid play of Butpapaporn Sukterm as the freshman placed District runner-up of the 57-competitor field and placed first of the Region VI competitors to earn the 2024 Champion title.
Sukterm compiled a 5-over 147, opening the two-day tournament with a 74 in trailing by a pair of strokes to Iowa Western's Baylie Pike as the duo carded identical 73 cards on Tuesday clinching the Reiver's individual title by two strokes.
Earning automatic bids to the NJCAA Division I Championship May 19-24 at the Duran Country Club in Melbourne, Florida, were the top ten individuals and the top two teams. Ranked 7th nationally, Dodge City Community College finished two rounds on their home course at 45-over 613, seven strokes better than 9th ranked Iowa Western's 52-over 620.
The Cougars stayed relatively consistent at 332 and 334 rounds to finish forty-six strokes back in third place at 98-over 666 score.
Just missing the automatic individual qualifications, Valentina Leyva finished in 11th overall, opening with an 81 but fell two spots on the leaderboard in the final round with an 82 for a 21-over 163.
Frida Medellin was the third Cougar on the leaderboard in 25th following 87-90 rounds for a 35-over 177.
Andrea Peraza and Alayna Crosby tied for the 29th spot at 39-over 181, Peraza with 90 and 91 rounds while Crosby was the lone climber up the standings on day two following a 92 card with a three-stroke improvement of 89.
Barton scores and placings:
2nd Butpapaporn Sukterm +5, 147 (74-73) *Region VI Champion
T-11th Valentina Leyva +21, 163 (81-82)
T-25th Frida Medellin +35, 177 (87-90)
T-29th Andrea Peraza +39, 181 (90-91)
T-29th Alayna Crosby +39, 181 (92-89)
Team scores and placings:
1st Dodge City CC +45, 613 (305-308)
2nd Iowa Western CC +52, 620 (313-307)
3rd Barton CC +98, 666 (332-334)
4th Iowa Central CC +112, 680 (350-330)
5th Des Moines CC +122, 690 (340-350)
6th Otero CC +135, 703 (346-357)
7th Fort Scott CC +193, 761 (378-383)
8th Hawkeye CC +194, 762 (379-383)
9th North Iowa Area CC +241, 809 (418-391)
10th Southeastern CC +275, 843 (421-422)