Men's Golf Set New Benchmarks in Outstanding 2016-17 Season
7/3/2017 1:46:00 PM | Men's Golf
KENT, Ohio - Kent State University men's golf head coach Herb Page insists that his program is among the very best in all of the NCAA, and the results during the 2016-17 season back him up.
The Golden Flashes played a strong schedule that resulted in five tournament championships, the Mid-American Conference Championship and a berth in the NCAA National Championship tournament. Individual medals piled up as the season went along, with team and individual records falling in the process.
"Obviously, the schedule was very difficult," said Page. "We played courses with all kinds of different grasses. We played in Scottsdale, Carolina's, Midwest… Under all types of conditions yet, as a team, we averaged under par. I have never had a team do this, and it was very impressive."
The 2016-17 season was called a record breaking year before it was finished, as there was never a doubt the team was loaded with special talent. Kent State used a consistent lineup for most of the season and produced unprecedented results. Kent State set a new program record for scoring average at 285.56, passing the 1999-2000 team by almost three strokes. The Flashes averaged nearly a stroke under par on the season, a first in program history.
This season's group met or surpassed the 99-00 team in several areas, an impressive feat considering that team featured multiple future PGA Tour competitors. This year's team was one short of the record for wins at six and two rounds short of the record for rounds under par at 24.
"I know this team broke some of the records of that 99-00 team," noted Page. "That team had three superstars in Danny Sahl, John Mills and Ben Curtis, and they had a lot of firepower. This year's team was five deep, we had five-number one caliber players, and on any day, they can all go really low. That 99-00 team had two future PGA stars, but the depth of this current team is phenomenal."
However, the firepower displayed by this Flash team is unmatched in Kent State history. The Flashes recorded 687 birdies and 29 eagles, both far and away the best numbers ever at Kent State. The Flashes led all of NCAA Division I in eagles and were tied for fifth in total birdies.
The Flashes were effective across the board, averaging 3.15 strokes on par 3's this season and 4.71 on par 5's, both program records. The Flashes finished seventh in the nation in par 5 scoring. Altogether, those numbers allowed Kent State to put on jaw dropping performances across the year, including record-setting weekends at the Cleveland State Invitational and the Maui Jim Intercollegiate.
"This team had more fire power of any team I have ever coached," said Page. "The length off the tee translated into our low par-5 scoring. We broke the par-5 record because of the strength and the distance that they hit the golf ball. But I think the thing that gets missed about this team is how well their putting was. Their putting statistics were off the charts. You put powerful long drives with putting, you'll make a lot of birdies, and we did."
For guiding the team over the entire season, Page was recognized by the MAC and his peers across the nation. He earned MAC Coach of the Year honors and was a finalist for National Coach of the Year.
Leading the way individually this season was junior Ian Holt, a consensus All-American and the 2017 MAC Golfer of the Year. Holt's season can only be measured against Flashes who went on to compete on tour professionally. He recorded a season scoring average of 71.54, just short of Ben Curtis and Jon Mills for the program record. He totaled 160 birdies, fifth in the nation and three short of Curtis' record, and averaged 4.61 on par 5's, the best mark in Kent State history. Holt's season peaked at the Cleveland State Invitational, when he shot 18-under par for the best 54-hole score in program history.
The season marked the final year for senior Josh Whalen, who shaved over three strokes off his average to end his career. A winner at the Seahawk Intercollegiate, Whalen ranked 78th individually by Golfstat this season. His total birdies of 134 ranked 53rd in the nation and is 11th all-time at Kent State. Whalen had the best round of his career at the Maui Jim Intercollegiate, posting a 64 in round one. It was one of the 50 best scores in the nation this season and the fourth best score in Kent State history.
The rest of the lineup were just as successful. Gisli Sveinbergsson earned the 2017 MAC Individual Championship for his first career tournament victory. Bjarki Petursson was a multiple tournament winner, taking titles at the Gopher Individual and the Boilermaker Invitational. He nearly won a third, finishing second at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate. Chase Johnson was steady throughout the year, as the former MAC Player of the Year averaged a 73 over 14 tournaments. His 63 at the Cleveland State Invitational was the 16th best round in the nation and one stroke off a program record.
"We had one senior that absolutely played his best year at Kent State, and we will not be able to replace Josh Whalen," said Page. "With his victory and his leadership, he had a great year on the golf course. Our four players coming back had phenomenal years, and we have two guys who are sophomores who got some playing experience, then we have three more coming in. It is going to be very competitive in seeing who gets in the lineup."
Kent State advanced to the NCAA National Championship and gained valuable experience for a bright future. The Flashes are in great shape to compete at Nationals next season, returning four of the five players in the championship lineup. Looking to replace Whalen will be a slew of talent already at Kent State and multiple top junior players signed for next season. Just like this past year, Page's team will be competing to be crowned the very best in NCAA golf.
"Our expectations are always high, but on September 1, we are starting at zero," noted Page. "It is up to the players to keep working, keep improving, and we will reach a lot of our goals."
Players Mentioned
