Corey Conners

Golden Flashes tied with No. 26 Iowa at +11 heading into Sunday's final round

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Three players sitting just out side of the top 10 have No. 18 Kent State in contention of its third straight and fifth title of the 2011-12 season at this weekend's Boilermaker Invitational.  Following rounds of 298 & 289 on Saturday, the Golden Flashes find themselves tied with No. 26 Iowa for first place on top of an 18-team field at 11-over par.  

While none of the current players on the roster were with the program back in 2008, Kent State's reputation at Purdue's Kampen Course is well known throughout the field.  The last time the storied program sent a team to play the lengthy 7,465-yard course, the Golden Flashes came away with the best postseason finish in school history placing sixth at the NCAA National Championship.  The monumental showing came just a month after the squad capped off the regular season by winning the Boilermaker Invitational in April of 2008.  

Hoping for a repeat performance, Kent State made its move just after the turn back to the front nine in round two.  A morning round of 298 (+10) left the Golden Flashes six shots off the pace set by No. 36 Wichita State at 293 (+5). Then sophomore Corey Conners (Listowel, Ontario) helped lead the Blue & Gold charge on the front by making three consecutive birdies on holes No. 1, 2 & 3 on his way to a team best 70 (-2).  Sophomore Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ontario) had a huge front nine as well carding three straight birdies on Nos. 3, 4, & 5 and another on 7 after taking an eight on the par 3 2nd.  By playing his final seven holes in four-under, Pendrith managed to close the round with an even par 72.  

Conners (77-70=147) and Pendrith (75-72) joined senior Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas, Ontario) in a tie for 11th in the individual standings.  Hughes (71-76=147) paced Kent State in the first round with a team-low 71 (-1) making five birdies against a bogey and a triple bogey.  

Junior Kevin Miller (Dover, Ohio) aided to the front nine rally for the Golden Flashes in round two making three birdies before finishing his afternoon with a 73 (+1).  Sophomore Kyle Kmiecik (Avon, Ohio) meanwhile had counters in both rounds as he worked his way to scored of 75 and 74.  His 36-hole total of 149 (75-74) leaves him tied for 22nd in the 93-man field.  

Final round action starts at 9:00 am off the front nine for Kent State which will be paired with Iowa and Illinois, which is two shots back of the leading group.

Follow the team on Twitter @KentStGolf. 

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