Johnson's birdie run helps Flashes back in the hunt at Bank of Tennessee
10/13/2017 5:19:00 PM | Men's Golf
JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. – Chase Johnson battled the flu and the hills of Blackthorn Club at the Ridges on his way to a 4-under-par opening round on Friday, helping Kent State overcome a slow start and stay in contention on day one of the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate.
The Golden Flashes' team score of 5-under-par 283 had them in sixth place heading into Tuesday's second round, but just six shots behind overnight leader Penn State.
"We are in good shape," said Kent State head coach Herb Page. "We didn't start out very well…and at one point we were down by around 10 shots. But we really played some great golf on the back nine to get back into the thick of it. The story of the day was Chase running off four birdies in a row."
After playing the front nine at even par, Johnson birdied the 360-yard 13th hole, the 517-yard 14th, the 419-yard 15th, and closed the run with a two at the 228-yard, par-three 16th. Two closing pars completed a back-nine 32 and a 68 for his day on the 7,147-yard par-72 home of East Tennessee State.
Chris Doody also played thru the flu, carding four birdies on his way to shooting 72.
"Both Chase and Chris were really struggling through the flu bug, and they fought through it and played very well," said Page. "They were exhausted afterwards, but now they have a chance to go back to the hotel and come back rested for the second round. I think they are over the worst of it."
Bjarki Petursson was the only Kent State player to break par on the front nine, shooting 34. Birdies at 10 and 18 capped an even-par back nine for a 2-under-par 70. Gisli Sveinbergsson added a 73 that included the shot of the day – a hybrid cut into a right pin placement at the 545-yard 10th hole.
"The green there is fronted by a hazard, so that was an awfully good shot from right around 230 yards," said Page. "He hit it to around four feet and made the putt for eagle."
Penn State at 11-under, Tennessee at 8-under, UNCW at 7-under, and Louisville and Coastal Carolina, both 6-under, all stand just ahead of Kent State on the team leaderboard with Missouri, and Virginia also within striking distance after breaking even-par 288.
"Our hats off to Penn State," said Page. "They had a great day. But after the way we started and with the way we battled back, I like our position. That run of four birdies in a row by Chase sort of saved the day. And also, on a day when our No. 1 player's score didn't count, today's round says something about our depth."
Players Mentioned
