by Alan Hoskins
Kansas City Kansas Community College had to settle for fifth place in the opening Jayhawk Conference Designated Tournament when snow shortened the tourney to 18 holes Monday.
Played at Salina Municipal, the Blue Devils finished with a 298 total, just two strokes back of fourth place Barton County.
Boasting the top three medalists, Dodge City was a runaway winner with a 272 total that was eight shots under par. Hutchinson finished second at 282 followed by Johnson County, 288; Barton, 296; KCKCC, 298; Garden City, 299; Independence, 300; Coffeyville, 308; Colby, 311; and Allen County, 318.
Four freshmen led the Blue Devils. Seve Sites of Shawnee Mission West tied for ninth with a one over par 39-32-71. Lane Pauls of Newton finished in a two-way tie for 15th with a 38-34-72; Piper’s Montana Fasching deadlocked for 28th with a 37-39-76; and Dalton Ayers of Newton shared 41st with a 41-38-79.
Sophomore Collin Herron of Topeka Hayden and freshman Alex Otting of Basehor-Linwood rounded out the KCKCC scoring with 82 and 85.
“For the first time out, the kids played pretty well,” said KCKCC coach Gary Shrader, who said snow held up the start of the first round for three hours. “We were able to finish the round but wind, snow and rain stopped the second round. We had kids hit drives but then couldn’t find their golf balls because of the snow”
The Blue Devils will be competing in the 36-hole Bethel College Invitational Saturday and Sunday. One 18-hole round will be played at Sandcreek Station in Newton; the other 18 at the Hesston Golf Club.
“Two of our players, Lane Pauls and Dalton Ayres, are from Newton so they’re real excited about this tournament,” Shrader said.