May 7, 2012

Men's Golf Team

The men's golf team has been named Kent State Student-Athletes of the Week.

Lighting and rain were the only things that slowed the 18th ranked Kent State men's golf team at the Mid-American Conference Championship this weekend. The Golden Flashes claimed their fourth straight and 20th overall league title by blitzing the field with a 40-shot, 54-hole victory after storms canceled the final round the 66th annual championship on Sunday afternoon.

With the final round at Rich Harvest Farms flashed out, Kent State officially ends the Championship with a nine-under, 855 (283-281-291) 54-hole team score. The 2012 Golden Flashes' 40-shot margin of victory enters the MAC record book as the fourth largest in tournament history falling behind Ohio's 44 in 1960, Kent State's 41 in 1995 and Ohio's 41 in 1963. Kent State had extend the lead to as many as 50 on Sunday, as the teams completed half the round before the cancelation wiped out all the scoring for the fourth round.

Sophomore Corey Conners (Listowel, Ontario) was awarded individual medalist honors after topping the field with a seven-under, 209 (70-67-72) on par 72, 6978-yard. The victory is the first collegiate win for the Kent State sophomore who also became the fourth straight and 21 individual in program history to win the MAC Championship.

Finishing runner-up to Conners was junior Kevin Miller (Dover, Ohio) who shot five-under 211 (70-69-72). 2011 MAC medalist, senior Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas, Ontario) gave Kent State three of the top five finishers after ending in a tie for fourth at one-over 217 (72-71-74). Hughes becomes the first MAC player since 2001 to play for four consecutive championship teams when the Golden Flashes' Jon Mills and Danny Sahl did so from 1997-01.

Picking up his team best sixth top 10 finish of the year was sophomore Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ontario) who tied for 8th at four-over 220 (71-74-75). Sophomore Kyle Kmiecik (Avon, Ohio) was having the Golden Flashes' best round on Sunday before the lighting came. Already three-under on the day after a birdie chip in on No. 10, Kmiecik was putting for eagle on No. 11 when the horn sounded to clear the course. His Sunday round had gained him 10 places on the field, but due to the cancelation he settled in a tie for 21st at 11-over, 227 (76-78-73).

Kent State's 855 was followed in the team standings by Eastern Michigan (895), Ohio (896), Ball State (899), Miami (900), Toledo (903), Northern Illinois (905) along with Akron (906) and Bowling Green (906).

2012 marks the first time since 2004 at the Medallion Club in Westerville, Ohio the MAC Championship was completed in less than 72 holes. Since the tournament went to 54 holes in 1972 its only the fourth time only 54 holes have been played.

Kent State's destination site for the 2012 NCAA Regional will be announced on Monday (May 7) at 9:00 p.m.