No. 22 Kent State in Fifth After Second Round at NCAA Regional
5/17/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Despite not playing near its best during the second round of the NCAA Fayetteville Regional, No. 22 Kent State enters the final 18 holes in fifth place. After shooting for par in the opening round, the Golden Flashes carded a 15-over, 303 on Friday at Blessing Golf Course.
"We played totally out of character out there today," said director of golf/head coach Herb Page. "I think our guys are a little down right now, but I'm not. We couldn't have played much worse and are still four shots ahead of the number. It was just a bad day."
Kent State entered the day in fourth and four strokes ahead of sixth-place, but will enter the final 18 holes on Saturday in fifth and four strokes ahead of Tulsa and SMU, who are tied for sixth-place. The Flashes have a two-round score of 591 and sit just one stroke behind fourth-place Oklahoma State. The top 5 teams at the regional will advance to the NCAA Championships in Atlanta, Ga. May 28-June 30.
After two players posted scores below par on Thursday, not a single Golden Flash did so today. Three players led the way by shooting 3-over, 75.
Among those players was junior Corey Conners, who sits just two strokes off the individual lead with a 142 (67-75). After a birdie on No. 3, Conners went the next 12 holes without recording another. A triple-bogey on No. 8, paired with two bogeys, had Conners at 5-over with just three holes remaining. He was able to closeout with a birdie on both No. 16 and No. 17 to remain in contention for the individual title.
Junior Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ontario) and sophomore Nick Scott (Union, Ohio) also carded a 75 for Kent State. Pendrith finished strong with birdies on No. 16 and No. 18 and is tied for 17th with a 146 (71-75). After not having his first round score counted in the team's total, Scott was terrific for 16 holes on Friday. He had two birdies on the front nine and was 2-under at the turn. He then recorded a triple-bogey on No. 10 and added a double-bogey on No. 16.
Junior Kyle Kmiecik (Avon, Ohio) was the final counter for the Flashes, shooting a 6-over, 78. A birdie on No. 9 put Kmiecik at 1-over at the turn, but he followed with a quadruple-bogey on No. 10. Kmiecik added an eagle on No. 16.
Senior Kevin Miller (Dover, Ohio) rounded out the day with a 7-over, 79. Miller. He was 5-over at the turn, birdied three of the first five hole to begin the back nine. It was looking like his score was going to count, but a quadruple-bogey on No. 18 set him back.
For the second straight day, the Flashes performed better on their first nine holes. They were 4-over after completing the front nine, but the day turned on No. 10, where the Flashes had a quadruple-bogey, triple-bogey, bogey, and a birdie that ended up not counting towards the team score. Kent State finished the round with two quadruple-bogeys, two triple-bogeys, and five double-bogeys.
"We finished strong," Page said. "We had three birdies and an eagle on 16. We've got a lead and we're going to have to go out and play tomorrow. It will be a gut check time tomorrow. Three teams have kind of separated themselves from the pack, and then there's four teams going for those final two spots."
Host Arkansas was the only team under par in the second round (5-under, 283) and holds a one-stroke lead over Illinois. Big 12 members Texas and Oklahoma State round out the top five teams. Three players, SMU's Mario Clemens, Arkansas' Austin Cook, and Stephen F. Austin's Mitchell McLeroy, are tied for the top individual spot at 4-under, 140 through two rounds.
Kent State will start Saturday's final round from the first hole. The first tee time for the Golden Flashes is scheduled for 8:50 a.m. ET.
| 5 | Kent State | 288 | 303 | 591 |
| T4 | Corey Conners (1) | 67 | 75 | 142 |
| T17 | Taylor Pendrith (2) | 71 | 75 | 146 |
| T40 | Kyle Kmiecik (4) | 75 | 78 | 153 |
| T44 | Kevin Miller (3) | 75 | 79 | 154 |
| T44 | Nicholas Scott (5) | 79 | 75 | 154 |
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