Kent State Lands Four On 2012 PING All-Region Team
6/5/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Golden Flashes have a school record four earn all-region honors
Complete GCAA Release
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — While the Kent State men's golf team was on their way to 5th place finish at the NCAA Championship last week the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) announced the 2012 Division I PING All-Region teams with Kent State represented by a school record four individuals. Earning honors for the Golden Flashes were senior Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas, Ontario), junior Kevin Miller (Dover, Ohio) along with sophomores Corey Conners (Listowel, Ontario) and Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ontario).
The GCAA All-Region teams consist of a total of 155 players across six regions (Midwest, East, West, Central, Northeast, Southeast) nationwide. All Members of the All-Region teams are eligible for PING All-America honors which are expected to be announced sometime within the next week.
Kent State now has 46 all-region selections since the honors started in 1988. The four honorees this year surpasses the previous mark of three in 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000 and 2010. This also marks the fifth consecutive year in which the Golden Flashes have had at least two players earn Midwest All-Region honors.
Hughes picks up his third straight all-region honor following a season in which he produced five top 10s and three top 5 finishes in 14 events. The 2011 Canadian Men's Amateur Champion, he closed out his collegiate career this season by posting a career best .773 winning percentage and a 72.82 scoring average. He ends his career having tied for the second most rounds (164) in school history and ranks sixth all-time with a career 73.67 scoring average. Hughes ended the year ranked 101st nationally in the latest Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings system.
A two-time first team All-Mid-American Conference pick, Miller earns his first All-Region nod this year. He competed his third year with the Golden Flashes recording four top 10s and eight top 20 finishes. For the third consecutive year he finished in the top 20 at the NCAA Regional placing a team best T-11th at the University of Michigan Golf Course this May. Miller closed out the year ranked 164th nationally in the latest Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings system.
Conners earns his all-region honor following one of the finest seasons ever by a Kent State golfer. The 2012 MAC Championship medalist, he was also tagged the MAC Golfer of the Year. His 71.74 scoring average in 12 events is the third best single season average in school history behind only Ben Curtis (2000) and Jon Mills (2000). At the NCAA Championship he had the best individual performance ever by a Golden Flashes tying for 4th in the nation with a one-under 212 (68-75-69). He ends the year with a .867 finish percentage and a No. 48 nationally ranking.
Another first time honoree this year for Kent State is Pendrith, who posted a team best six top 10s and four top 5s this season. Second on the team behind Conners with a 72.68 scoring average he had 20 of his 40 rounds go for par or better. Pendrith ends the year ranked 76th nationally in the Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings system.
