Kent State University
Robert Kepler Intercollegiate
Flashes Finish Fourth in Regular Season Finale
4/21/2024 7:00:00 PM | Men's Golf
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Kent State men's golf team finished fourth at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate at the Scarlet Course at Ohio State on Sunday.
The Golden Flashes finished the 54-hole event at 26-over par after scoring 11-over on Sunday, while champion Indiana put together the low round of the weekend with a 284 to finished at 19-over par for the tournament. Host Ohio State placed second at 22-over par, while Purdue secured third place at 24-over par.
Three Flashes placed in the top 25 after all scorecards were signed. Jordan Gilkison tied for 12th after a 4-over par 75 on Sunday thanks to a very steady back nine. Chris Vandette and Bryce Reed both finished tied for 21st at 8-over par for the tournament. Reed shot a two-over par 73 on Sunday while Vandette finished 7-over par after starting the day in fourth place.
Cade Breitenstine finished 12-over par for the weekend after shooting a 6-over par 77 in the final round. Edvin Backstrom had his best round of the weekend to close out the tournament, scoring a 1-under par 70 to finish 12-over par. Daniel Heister, playing as an individual, shot 7-over on the day to finish 17-over for the event.
Kent State posted the highest finish of all non-Big Ten programs on the weekend, including four other MAC programs. Northern Illinois finished tied for seventh at 31-over par, Miami tied for 12th at 44-over, Eastern Michigan placed 15th at 51-over, while Ohio came in last at 55-over. The Flashes will look to replicate those results at the MAC Championships at the Club at Chatham Hills in Westfield, Ind.
Round 2 Recap
After starting the day in first place out of 18 teams, the Golden Flashes continued to hit the ball well on a breezy day on the Scarlet Course at Ohio State. Kent State shot a 13-over par 297 and will share the lead with host Buckeyes heading into Sunday's final round after Ohio State climbed six spots on the leaderboard with a 6-over par 290, the lowest total of the day. South Dakota State is in third place at 18-over par on the weekend, while Indiana moved all the way up to fourth after a 7-over par 291 and sit just once stroke behind the Jackrabbits. Purdue and Dayton round out the top 5, sitting six strokes behind Kent State and Ohio State at 21-over par.
Four Flashes crack the top 25 after Saturday's round. Both Chris Vandette and Jordan Gilkison shot a 3-over par 74 and find themselves inside the top 10. Vandette is tied for fourth for the second day in a row at 1-over par and sits four shots behind the leader, while Gilkison sits just one stroke back in a tie for seventh place. Cade Breitenstine had the low round for the Flashes with a 1-over par 72 and is tied for 24th place with Bryce Reed, who shot a 5-over par 76.
Edvin Backstrom rounded out the Flashes lineup with a 10-over par 81. Competing as an individual, Edvin Backstrom shot a 5-over par 76 for the second round in a row.
Through two rounds, the Flashes sport the best average score on Par 3s at 3.13, sitting at +5 with Purdue and Dayton on the 5th, 8th, 13th, and 17th holes.
Round 1 Recap
The Golden Flashes shot a 3-over par 287 to sit atop the leaderboard at the end of Day 1 of competition, two shots ahead of both Purdue and South Dakota State. Dayton is four shots back of Kent State in fourth place at 7-over par 291, while Maryland and Colorado State are in a tie for fifth place at 8-over par 292.
A trio of Flashes sit in the top 15 after the opening round. Chris Vandette is tied for fourth place after a 2-under par 69, going -4 in his last 15 holes. He was one of only six golfers to shoot in the 60s on Friday and sits just two back of the lead. Jordan Gilkison finished one shot behind Vandette and sits in a tie for seventh place after carding a 1-under par 70. Bryce Reed sits tied for 14th place at 1-over par 72, posting a team-high five birdies on the day.
Cade Breitenstine enters Saturday's round tied for 57th after 5-over par 76, while Edvin Backstrom sits one stroke behind him tied for 75th. Competing as an individual, Daniel Heister sits in a tie for 47th place at 4-over par 75.
Team Results
1. Indiana +19
2. Ohio State +22
3. Purdue +24
4. Kent State +26
t-5. South Dakota State +30
t-5. Dayton +30
t-7. Northern Illinois +31
t-7. Colorado State +31
t-7. Kansas City +31
10. Iowa +37
11. Creighton +41
t-12. Maryland +44
t-12. Miami University +44
14. St. John's +49
15. Eastern Michigan +51
16. North Dakota State +53
17. Abilene Christian +54
18. Ohio +55
Individual Results
t-12. Jordan Gilkison +6 (70, 74, 75)
t-21. Chris Vandette +8 (69, 74, 78)
t-21. Bryce Reed +8 (72, 76, 73)
t-47. Cade Breitenstine +12 (76, 72, 77)
t-73. Edvin Backstrom +15 (77, 81, 70)
t-82. Daniel Heister* +17 (76, 76, 78)
* Notes golfer competed as an individual
Tournament Information
Location: Columbus, OH
Course: Scarlet Course at Ohio State
Dates: April 19-21
Par: 71 - 7455 Yards
Players Mentioned
