Two Eagles Put Cairns In The Hunt At The NIT
3/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Golden Flashes in fifth place at four-under
Tucson, Ariz. - Highlighted by a pair of eagles, Kent State sophomore Brett Cairns (Courtland, Ontario) is just three-strokes off the lead at the National Invitational Tournament after shooting a four-under 140 (70-70) through the first 36 holes. Playing the par 72, 7,200-yard Omni National Course lay-out, Cairns paced the Golden Flashes which stand in fifth place with a four-under 572 (289-283).
Cairns' eagled the par five, 511 yard 10th hole twice on Sunday while adding six other birdies to card a two-under 70 in each round. In the morning round, the All-MAC selection hit driver off the tee then found the green with a hybrid from close to 240 yards out. He finished off the hole with a 20-foot putt for the first eagle of his collegiate career. After his early success, Cairns used the same approach in the afternoon round and drained another 20-footer.
Tied with four others, he'll begin Monday's final round three-stoke back of Arizona's Philip Bagdade and New Mexico's Nick Geyer. James Sacheck of TCU is currently in third place at five-under.
Sophomore John Hahn (Hudson, Ohio / Hudson) finished the first two rounds with a one-under 143 (71-72) today leaving him one stoke out of the top ten in a nine-way tie for 16th. Hahn posted 15 pars on his way to an opening round 71 before an even par 72 in the afternoon. In his 72, the First Team All-MAC performer had three birdies and was two-under through 16 holes before finishing bogey-bogey on 17 and 18.
Playing the best two rounds of his career, senior Nick Latimer (Brooklyn, Ohio / Brooklyn) contributed to the Golden Flashes scoring with a one over 145 (72-73). Latimer had 16 pars in round one to match his lowest round of the season with an even par 72. In round two he was two over on the front before making birdie on three of the first five holes upon making the turn. A double-bogey on 18 then led to a one-over 73 on the day.
Freshman Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas, Ontario (Highland Secondary) rallied from a four-over 76 in round one and carded a one under 71 in round two after making five birdies. Hughes is at three-over 147 (76-71) for the tournament. Junior David Ludlow (Burton, Ohio / Berkshire) equaled Kent State's lowest round of the day in the afternoon with a two-under 70 to follow-up his morning round of 78. He is one stroke behind Hughes after 36-holes with a four-over 148 (78-70). Competing as an individual today sophomore J.P. Paiement (Des Ruisseaux, Quebec) had rounds of 73 and 80.
“I am proud of the way our guys hung in there and competed in the afternoon, said Head Coach Herb Page, “The wind really picked up and was howling during the second round, but we showed some improvement and had a nice day all-around.”
The Golden Flashes shot a one-over 289 in the morning, then behind Carins and Ludlow compiled a five under 283 in round two. Kent State is 12 stokes back with a four-under 572 heading into tomorrow's final round. New Mexico holds the team lead with a 16-under 560.
Kent State Par Rd1 Rd2 Rd3 Total
T4 Brett Cairns -4 70 70 140
T16 John Hahn -1 71 72 143
T34 Nick Latimer +1 72 73 145
T46 Mackenzie Hughes +3 76 71 147
T53 David Ludlow +4 78 70 148
76 J.P. Paiement ( I ) +9 73 80 153
team Rd1 Rd2 Rd3 total
1 New Mexico -16 280 280 560
2 UNLV -13 286 277 563
T3 Arizona -8 289 279 568
T3 TCU -8 285 283 568
5 Kent State -4 289 283 572
6 Texas -1 282 293 575
7 California E 283 293 576
T8 Baylor +5 291 290 581
T8 Colorado St. +5 295 286 581
T8 Arizona (B) +5 290 291 581
T11 Tulsa +11 290 297 587
T11 SMU +11 290 297 587
13 UTEP +14 297 293 590
14 Houston +20 301 295 596
15 Wyoming +28 310 294 604
