Flashes Lead MAC Championships by 15 Strokes
4/29/2016 5:42:00 PM | Men's Golf
SYLVANIA, Ohio –Kent State extended its lead to 15 strokes during round three of the Mid-American Conference Championships Friday at Highland Meadows Golf Club. Sophomores Ian Holt (Stow, Ohio) and Chase Johnson (Barberton, Ohio) both climbed the leaderboard by shooting a 1-under 70.
The Flashes shot 1-over on the day, moving to 12-over for the tournament. Kent State gained 11 strokes on Eastern Michigan (+27) Friday and two strokes on Northern Illinois (+28).
"Our game plan was to be patient and we stuck to it," Head Coach Herb Page said. "This course is a lot trickier than you think it's going to be. The greens are really fast. And we did a good job of staying on the better side of the greens."
Holt had just one bogey on the day and made an 18-foot eagle putt on 17. The putt was set up by a 5-iron shot from 222 yards out. He sits in third place at 2-over for the tournament, three shots behind Joo Young-Lee (Northern Illinois).
"Ian was really good all day," Page said. "He had some great looks for birdies and kept burning the edge of the hole until 17. He absolutely crushed his drive on 17."
Johnson birdied three of his first seven holes and added a fourth birdie on 17.
"Chase played a lot better today," Page said. "When he stays patient, he can compete with anybody."
Junior Josh Whalen (Napanee, Ontario) put a rough opening day behind him to shoot a 1-over 73 on Friday. Whalen birdied the final two holes.
"I'm really proud of Josh," Page said. "As a team, those last two holes really gave us some separation."
Freshman Bjarki Petursson (Borgarnes, Iceland) scored for the third straight round with a 2-over 73. Petursson chipped in for birdie on the 13th hole. He sits in a tie for sixth place with Johnson and Gisli Sveinbergsson (Hafnarfjordur, Iceland).
"Bjarki told me he didn't have his best day," Page said. "But he's more comfortable out there now than he was earlier in the year and was able to scramble today."
Despite having the Flashes highest score of the day with a 3-over 74, Sveinbergsson remains in contention. He made two birdies on the day.
Saturday's final round begins at 7:15 a.m. Kent State, Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois will tee off at 9:15 a.m.
"We just need to keep doing what we've been doing," Page said.
Players Mentioned
