LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Kent State's men's golf team watched its overnight lead slip away while finishing second at the Windon Memorial Classic near Chicago.
After shooting 7-under-par during Sunday's first two rounds to take a three-shot advantage at the 7,202-yard, par-72 Knollwood Club, the Golden Flashes struggled to a 6-over-par 294 finish on Monday.
Tournament host Northwestern turned its three-shot deficit heading into the day into a three-shot win by shooting an even-par 288 in the last round to finish 4-under for the event.
"No excuses. We battled to the end and Northwestern just beat us," said Kent State head coach Herb Page. "It's frustrating when you get that close, but we just made some mistakes on the back nine. Sometimes you have to step back when you lose like this and take a look at the positives. The good news is that we beat a bunch of good, nationally-ranked teams, including Arkansas, and a lot of teams from the Big Ten. We also found some depth."
Seniors Kyle Kmiecik and Taylor Pendrith led the way for Kent State, both finishing tied for fifth place individually at 3-under par. Kmiecik (71-69-73–213) kept the Golden Flashes hopes alive late in his round with birdies at the par-4 13th and par-5 16th. Pendrith (70-71–72) added birdies at 16 and the par-4 closing hole to shoot the day's best round for Kent State at even par.
Sophomore Kody Fry (71-73-74–218) finished in a tie for 19th place at 2-over for the event, while senior Corey Conners (71-78-75–224) struggled to a tie for 40th place at 8-over. Jake Troyer (79-73-82–236) finished tied for 82nd place at 18-over par.
"The depth we found this week is very encouraging," said Page. "Kyle Kmiecik worked his way back into the lineup and had one of his best tournaments ever. Hhe really looks like he has his confidence back. He was fabulous. He had his tempo going, and connectivity with his swing. He looked like the Kyle Kmiecik of old.
"Taylor Pendrith also had a great tournament, and then Kody Fry came in 19th in his first real tournament and against a very good field. Now we have some serious depth. We have to ask ourselves, who do we play now? It's awfully hard to take Kody Fry out of the lineup after he shoots those scores."
Kent State returns to action Sept. 29-30 with a trip to Ohio State's Scarlet Course for the Jack Nicklaus Invitational.
 |
|
-1 |
+6 |
+3 |
F |
|
-2 |
-1 |
E |
F |
|
-1 |
-3 |
+1 |
F |
|
+7 |
+1 |
+10 |
F |
|
-1 |
+1 |
+2 |
F |
|
|
1 |
|
-4 |
F |
E |
282 |
290 |
288 |
860 |
|
2 |
|
-1 |
F |
+6 |
283 |
286 |
294 |
863 |
|
3 |
|
+8 |
F |
+2 |
292 |
290 |
290 |
872 |
|
T4 |
|
+11 |
F |
-1 |
292 |
296 |
287 |
875 |
|
T4 |
|
+11 |
F |
+2 |
293 |
292 |
290 |
875 |
|
6 |
|
+16 |
F |
+12 |
291 |
289 |
300 |
880 |
|
T7 |
|
+17 |
F |
+10 |
299 |
284 |
298 |
881 |
|
T7 |
|
+17 |
F |
+13 |
283 |
297 |
301 |
881 |
|
9 |
|
+21 |
F |
+7 |
293 |
297 |
295 |
885 |
|
T10 |
|
+22 |
F |
+14 |
290 |
294 |
302 |
886 |
|
T10 |
|
+22 |
F |
+18 |
289 |
291 |
306 |
886 |
|
12 |
|
+33 |
F |
+14 |
294 |
301 |
302 |
897 |
|
T13 |
|
+34 |
F |
+9 |
294 |
307 |
297 |
898 |
|
T13 |
|
+34 |
F |
+12 |
301 |
297 |
300 |
898 |
|
15 |
|
+35 |
F |
+8 |
302 |
301 |
296 |
899 |
|
16 |
|
+51 |
F |
+19 |
302 |
306 |
307 |
915 |
