Flashes in Ninth After 36 Holes of Fighting Irish Classic
10/6/2024 8:01:00 PM | Men's Golf
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Kent State men's golf team opened their fourth tournament of the season on Sunday with the opening two rounds of the Fighting Irish Classic contested at Warren Golf Course. The Flashes recorded a 15-over-par 295 in round one before posting an improved 5-over-par 285 in round two to finish the day at 20-over-par and in ninth place among the field of 15 teams.
After leading the Flashes at last week's Blessings Collegiate, Jordan Gilkison once again leads the way through two rounds of the Fighting Irish Classic. The senior began his day with a 3-over-par 73 in round one before stepping up in round two with a 3-under-par 67, the only round below par by a Kent State golfer on Sunday. Gilkison utilized a second round of four birdies and just one bogey to sit tied for eighth place heading into Monday's final round.
Making his first appearance of the season in the Kent State lineup, Edvin Backstrom put up a consistent performance across 36 holes on Sunday. He fired the lowest score on the team in round one with a 1-over-par 71, fueled by two birdies, before tallying a 3-over-par 73 consisting of 15 pars. Backstrom will seek a top-20 finish in tomorrow's final round as he currently sits tied for 24th place.
Nolan Haynes returned to the Flashes lineup after impressing in his first appearance in the team lineup at last week's Blessings Collegiate. The freshman continued his positive momentum on Sunday with rounds of 2-over-par 72 and 3-over-par 73. Haynes accumulated just six bogeys across 36 holes on Sunday to record back-to-back rounds countable toward the team total. He is tied for 30th entering tomorrow's third round.
The final first-round score countable toward the team total for the Flashes was recorded by Bryce Reed with a 9-over-par 79. After 36 holes, the senior is tied for 75th place at 12-over-par. After bogey troubles in round one, Isaiah Ibit recovered with a solid round two performance to round out the Flashes' second-round scores countable toward the team total. The freshman fired a 2-over-par 72 on the second 18, consisting of 14 pars and one birdie. Ibit is tied for 82nd place entering round three.
Heading into Monday's final round, hosts Notre Dame sit atop the team standings at 2-over-par. The Flashes will look to climb from ninth on the leaderboard, with the three teams above them within 12 strokes after two rounds of play.
The Flashes will conclude the Fighting Irish Classic on Monday with the third and final round set for an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start.
Fighting Irish Classic Standings (Rounds 1-2)
1. Notre Dame: 287-275 = 562 (+2)
2. Louisville: 287-276 = 563 (+3)
T-3. UCLA: 280-284 = 564 (+4)
T-3. Little Rock: 278-286 = 564 (+4)
5. Purdue: 281-284 = 565 (+5)
6. Iowa: 285-283 = 568 (+8)
7. Georgia Southern: 287-286 = 573 (+13)
8. Tennessee: 290-285 = 575 (+15)
9. Kent State: 295-285 = 580 (+20)
10. Michigan State: 296-286 = 582 (+22)
11. Duke: 290-296 = 586 (+26)
12. Augusta: 293-294 = 587 (+27)
13. Rutgers: 295-295 = 590 (+30)
14. Indiana: 290-302 = 592 (+32)
15. Washington: 298-296 = 594 (+34)
Kent State Standings (Rounds 1-2)
T-8. Jordan Gilkison: 73-67 = 140 (E)
T-24. Edvin Backstrom: 71-73 = 144 (+4)
T-30. Nolan Haynes: 72-73 = 145 (+5)
T-75. Bryce Reed: 79-73 = 152 (+12)
T-82. Isaiah Ibit: 84-72 = 156 (+16)
Players Mentioned
