ANKENY, Iowa - After Day 1 of the 2023 Plains District Championships at Otter Creek Golf Course, Iowa Western holds a four-shot lead over Barton County (Kan.)
The Reivers, who have won their last 12 NJCAA National Qualifying tournaments, boasted the top two scores from round 1 leader, Madi Schlaepfer (+1, 72) and Baylie Pyke (+2, 73). Schlaepfer led all players with four birdies, while Pyke had two birdies to go with 12 pars, second-most on the day.
Marley Richter also joined the Reivers in the top 10, with a 6-over 77. Winnie Hung and Brook Diekemper each posted 9-over 80s to put the Reivers as +18 for the team. (Top four scores used to calculate team score.)
Barton County was led by Yu Wei Chiang who is tied for second place with Pyke at +2. Pornnapa Inmee and Valentina Leyva were in the top 10 to give them a +16 stroke lead over the current third place, Iowa Central.
If the tournament would end today, Iowa Western and Barton County would advance to the National Tournament as the two top teams and next three individuals advance.
Currently, the top three individuals are DMACC's Ashley Michel (+3), Garden City's Kanchana Kanchanaphiboon (+4), Dodge City's Tara Phipps (+6).
Teams meet back at Otter Creek tomorrow morning, with a shotgun start scheduled for 9:00 a.m.