Kent State University
Bank of Tennessee
No. 17 Men's Golf heads to Bank of Tennessee
10/10/2013 6:23:00 PM | Men's Golf
The No. 17 Kent State men's golf team continues its fall schedule with a trip to Jonesborough, Tenn. for the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate held at Blackthorn Club at The Ridges.
The Golden Flashes have enjoyed some success on the 7,147-yard, par-72 track, including a team victory in 2011.
"We couldn't defend as champions last year because we were invited to the NCAA Preview," said Kent State head coach Herb Page. "We took a sabbatical, and now we are excited to be back. I think this is the toughest field we've played in this year. It may not be as top heavy with top-10 teams, but there are four top-25 teams and a lot of teams knocking on the door of the top 25. THis is the time of year when we really start to find out who is a top-25 or top-50 team. I'm excited."
The 14-team field includes No. 13 Virginia Tech, No. 14 Virginia, No. 26 Memphis, No. 47 Missouri and No. 48 Tennessee, along with tournament host Eastern Tennessee at No. 52 and coming off of an 11-shot victory at 21-under-par in the Wolfpack Intercollegiate last week in Raleigh, N.C.
Six Golden Flashes will make the trip, including the five-man team of Corey Conners, Taylor Pendrith, Kyle Kmiecik, Nick Scott and Josh Whalen. Jake Troyer will play as an individual.
"We have a very nice history at this tournament, but history doesn't mean anything," said Page. "I'm sure Corey Conners feels very good at the Ridges because he played very well there two years ago as a sophomore. The Ridges is a parkland style course, but being in East Tennessee, it is very hilly with a lot of downhill and sidehill lies that we are not used to. It has four very penal holes with water hazards. The course kind of lulls you to sleep a little bit and then all of a sudden it jumps you with those holes. Three of the four par fives are protected by water hazards in front of the green, so there is some risk-reward there."
The Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate is a three-round events with 18 holes rounds beginning at 8 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
