Conners' 67 Leads Golden Flashes at NCAA Regional First Round
5/16/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
First round results (.pdf)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The No. 22 Kent State men's golf team is in fourth-place at the NCAA Fayetteville Regional after shooting an opening round even-par 288 at the University of Arkansas' Blessings Golf Course on Thursday. Junior Corey Conners (Listowel, Ontario) is tied for second and sits just two strokes off the lead after firing a 5-under, 67.
The 288 team score is the fourth-lowest NCAA Regional opening round score in Kent State history. The Golden Flashes trail third-place Oklahoma State by two strokes and are six strokes off the lead, as Illinois sits atop the leaderboard after 18 holes with a 6-under, 282. The Flashes got off to a tremendous start , shooting 7-under on the back nine and were tied for the lead at the turn. A pair of bogeys on No. 8, coupled with a bogey and double-bogey on No. 8 and No. 9 concluded the round for the Flashes.
"I'm very proud of my guys today," said director of golf/head coach Herb Page. "At one time, we had it about 7-under, so I was very pleased with the start. We hit some great shots, but at the end left a couple out there. Overall, even-par was a great score for this course."
Conners matched his lowest round of the season by shooting 67. Thursday's round ties for the third-lowest single-round score at NCAA Regionals in program history and is tied for second relative-to-par (-5). The last Golden Flash to card a 67 at regionals was John Hahn in the third round in 2010. Kent State went on to capture its third regional title that year.
His tremendous poise was on display throughout the day. After shooting for par on No. 10 to open the round, Conners bogeyed the following two holes and fell behind quickly. Unphased, he posted three birdies and an eagle over the final six holes of the back nine and sat at 3-under at the turn. Conners then parred the next seven holes before wrapping up it up with a birdie on No. 8 and No 9.
"Corey Conners just had a fabulous round," Page said. "He was a couple of strokes over after three holes, so he played 7-under over the last 15 holes. That's what a great player does for you."
"I started hitting the ball really well in today's round and really managed my game well," said Conners. "I didn't put myself into trouble and was able to hit a few nice shots really close to the pin to make some birdies. I think I was within 5 feet on three of those holes, so I just made it really easy on myself."
Junior Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ontario) also provided a strong performance in the opening round. Pendrith posted a 1-under, 71 and is tied for ninth-place. He was one of two Flashes with a birdie to open the day, but followed with back-to-back bogeys. Like Conners, Pendrith was in a groove on holes 13 through 16. He birdied all four holes, but those would be the last of his round.
Senior Kevin Miller (Dover, Ohio) carded a 3-over, 75 and is currently tied for 39th. Miller started his round with a birdie on No. 10 and joined Pendrith at 3-under-par through seven holes. He was on pace to shoot an even-par for the day, but was tripped up with a double-bogey and bogey on his final two holes. Junior Kyle Kmiecik (Avon, Ohio) also finished with a 75 and was the final counter for the Flashes in the first round. Sophomore Nick Scott (Union, Ohio) rounded out Kent State's lineup by shooting 7-over, 79.
Illinois holds a three-stroke lead after posting a 6-under, 282 team score on Thursday. The Illini's Charlie Danielson was the only player not to record on bogey. Danielson had seven birdies and is the individual leader with a 7-under, 65.
"Yesterday, if you would have told me we would shoot even-par, I would have told you that you were crazy," Page said. "This was one of the toughest golf courses I have ever walked and there aren't any easy holes out there. Every hole's got a danger and the green surfaces are very treacherous."
Kent State is scheduled for the first wave of tee times beginning at 9:20 a.m. ET on Friday. The Flashes will be paired with Arkansas and Colorado and begin at the first tee.
| 4 | Kent State | 288 | 288 |
| T2 | Corey Conners (1) | 67 | 67 |
| T9 | Taylor Pendrith (2) | 71 | 71 |
| T39 | Kevin Miller (3) | 75 | 75 |
| T39 | Kyle Kmiecik (4) | 75 | 75 |
| T58 | Nicholas Scott (5) | 79 | 79 |
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