Kent State University
MAC Championships
Kent State Comeback Falls Just Short at MAC Championships
5/2/2023 7:14:00 PM | Men's Golf
Athens, ALA… After trailing the leader by as many as ten strokes after two rounds of this year's MAC Championships, the Kent State men's golf team made a furious comeback bid, cutting that lead down to as little as two before running out of gas down the stretch and finishing this year's event in fourth.
"We just made too many mistakes and seemed to struggle late each day on the back nine," KSU head coach Jon Mills said. "We didn't do a good job adapting to the conditions and it showed in our result. We are very frustrated with our inconsistencies this year, but we will bounce back from this."
Ultimately, the Huskies of Northern Illinois would claim their first MAC title since 1985, staving off the comeback effort despite being out-shot by the next three teams in Ball State, Toledo and Kent State.
Cade Breitenstine was consistently excellent down the stretch, carding a 70 in each of the final two rounds to aid in Kent State's comeback effort, and earning himself a spot on the All-Tournament team.
"I am proud of how the battled today to get within a few strokes, but our mistakes caught up to us after 12th hole," Mills said.
With MAC season awards handed out just after the conclusion of the event, the Flashes very own Ben MacLean has been named MAC Freshman of the Year, following last year's winner in Jordan Gilkison.
MacLean was one of four Flashes to finish this event inside the top-20, following Breitenstine in third, Gilkison in 13th and Bryce Reed in 15th.
"I'm proud of Ben for earning Freshman of the Year," Mills said. "It was definitely well deserved, he works harder then anyone on this team and I am glad it paid off for him."
Final Team Results
1. Northern Illinois +5
2. Ball State +9
3. Toledo +11
4. Kent State +13
5. Miami (OH) +18
6. Central Michigan +26
7. Eastern Michigan +30
8. Ohio +36
9. Bowling Green +40
Final Individual Results
3. Cade Breitenstine -2, 214 (74-70-70)
T14. Jordan Gilkison +4, 220 (74-73-73)
15. Bryce Reed +5, 221 (73-74-74)
T18. Ben MacLean +7, 223 (74-73-76)
T27. Chris Vandette +10, 226 (73-77-76)
Postseason MAC Awards
Earl Yestingsmeier Sportsmanship Award: Jack Ebner, Miami
Kermit Blosser Coach of the Year: John Carlson, Northern Illinois
Freshman of the Year: Ben MacLean, Kent State
Golfer of the Year: Barend Botha, Toledo
All-Tournament Team Barend Botha, Toledo Danny Fisher, Miami Cade Breitenstine, Kent State Kash Bellar, Ball State Carter Smith, Ball State Cam Kellett, Eastern Michigan Zach Place, Northern Illinois
Players Mentioned
