DODGE CITY, Kan. - Iowa Western's Baylie Pyke defended her Plains District Championship title on Tuesday, firing a second round 2-over par to win the event by two-strokes.
The sophomore ended the tournament with a 3-over, 36-hole score beating out Butpapaporn Sukterm of Barton County who ended at +5. Both ended the second round with a +2, 73.
Pyke, after four birdies and five bogies in round one, ended the round with four birdies, three bogies and an uncharacteristic triple on hole 15. Despite that Pyke was able to repeat as District Champion. She led all golfers on Par 3s, ending the tournament at 3-under over the eight holes. She was 1-under on Par 5s -- which was tied for second-best in the field of 52 golfers that played both rounds.
As a team, Iowa Western qualified as a team after a second place team finish behind Dodge City. Notably, the Conqs were playing on their home course of Mariah Hills. The Reivers ended seven strokes behind Dodge City, and earned their 14th-straight national tournament bid.
Charlie Maxwell was the second-highest ICCAC and Reiver finisher behind Pyke. She ended with a +12 after a second round 73, tying the round-low with Pyke and Sukterm. Winnie Hung ended in seventh place, one back of Maxwell at +13. She played back-to-back days in the 70s (76 & 79).
Iowa Central moved up the standings from sixth place to fourth place with solid rounds from Liv Tait and Olivia Eckert.
Tait posted a 77 in round two, moving up five spots in the leaderboard and into the top 10. Unfortunately for the Triton sophomore, she was one spot shy of qualifying as an individual -- which went to the top three finishers in the top 10 that weren't on Dodge City or Iowa Western, the two qualifying teams.
Ahead of Tait were Sukterm (Barton County), Priscilla Padilla (Otero) and Kanchana Kanchanaphiboon (Garden City).
Eckert shot an 81 on Day 2 for the Tritons, who leapfrogged DMACC and Otero in the team standings. Ivanna Becerra-Diaz posted a top 20 finish for the Tritons as well, tying for 19th at 28-over par.
DMACC's Anne Van Hemert was the Bears top performer, tying with Eckert in 16th place. Erin Winker of DMACC tied Beccera-Diaz for 19th. Rounding out the top 20 performances was Beatriz Pinheiro of Iowa Western who took 14th place at +24.
Although Iowa Western is the only ICCAC team to earn an automatic bid, keep an eye on Iowa Central as the field is announced, five teams will be awarded at-large bids from across the NJCAA. Their Tuesday push may put them in the field.
The 2024 National Tournament is scheduled for May 19-24 in Melbourne, Fla. at Duran Country Club.
Team Standings:
1. Dodge City, +45
2. Iowa Western, +52
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3. Barton County, +98
4. Iowa Central, +112
5. DMACC, +122
6. Otero, +135
7. Fort Scott, +193
8. Hawkeye, +194
9. NIACC, +241
10. Southeastern,+275
--- Top 2 Qualify For NJCAA National Tournament
Complete Team Leaderboard
ICCAC Top 10:
1. Baylie Pike, Iowa Western +3
6. Charlie Maxwell, Iowa Western +12
7. Winnie Hung, Iowa Western +13
10. Liv Tait, Iowa Central +19
T14. Beatriz Pinheiro, Iowa Western +24
T16. Olivia Eckert, Iowa Central, +25
T16. Anne Van Hemert, DMACC +25
T19. Ivanna Becerra-Diaz, Iowa Central +28
T19. Erin Winker, DMACC +28
23. Chase Doland, Hawkeye, +31