ANKENY, Iowa - The Barton County Cougars rallied from a four-stroke deficit in Day 2 to win the Plains District Championship over defending champion Iowa Western on Tuesday.
The Cougars were led by Yu Wei Chiang who posted a second place 5-over par, after rounds of 73 and 74. Three other Cougars finished in the top 10 to give them the 2023 crown. Pornnapa Inmee finished fourth at 8-over, Saya Schweitzer took seventh at +15 and Valentina Leyva shot 17-over for 10th place.
With the win, Barton County qualifies for the NJCAA National Tournament -- along with Iowa Western.
The Reivers were led by Baylie Pyke, the 2023 Plains District Champion. The Reiver freshman, who has been coming on as of late, posted back-to-back rounds of 73 for tournament-low 4-over. Pyke drilled a birdie putt on 18 to give her the one shot advantage over Chiang.
Madi Schlaepfer took third place as the lone returner from last year's team. She shot a 6-over after holding a one-shot lead after round 1. Marley Ricther was the other Reiver to finish in the top 10 -- an eighth place finish at +16.
Three other individuals qualified for the National Tournament based on their finish at the District.
DMACC's Ashley Michel took sixth place and qualified as an individual for the second year in a row. Michel shot a +12 for the tournament. Fellow ICCAC golfer Abby Gaudian of Iowa Central took a tie for eighth with Richter at +16 -- she will advance to compete at the NJCAA Tournament as well.
The other was Garden City's Kanchana Kanchanaphiboon who ended the tournament in fifth place with a +10.
Qualifiers will head to Buffalo Dunes in Finney County, Kan. May 8-11 for the National Tournament.
Team:
- Barton County, +45
- Iowa Western, +50
- DMACC, +95
- Iowa Central, +98
- Dodge City, +111
- NIACC, +159
- Hawkeye, +183
- Otero, +196
- Fort Scott, +198
Individual Top 10:
1. Baylie Pyke - Iowa Western, +4
2. Yu Wei Chiang - Barton County, +5
3. Madi Schlaepfer - Iowa Western, +6
4. Pornnapa Inmee - Barton County, +8
5. Kanchana Kanchanaphiboon, Garden City, +10
6. Ashley Michel - DMACC, +12
7. Saya Schweitzer, Barton County, +15
T8. Abby Gaudian - Iowa Central +16
T8. Marley Richter - Iowa Western, +16
10. Valentina Leyva, Barton County, +17