Multiple Flashes in Top 15 After Blessings Collegiate Round One
9/30/2024 8:46:00 PM | Men's Golf, Women's Golf
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Kent State men's and women's golf teams both opened their third tournament of the season on Monday with round one of the Blessings Collegiate Invitational at Blessings Golf Club. The men recorded a 14-over-par 302 to sit in eighth place out of the ten competing schools, while the women fired a 12-over-par 300 and are tied for sixth place.
The Flashes' women's team was led in round one by Isabella Goyette and Leon Takagi, who each fired 1-over-par rounds of 73 on Monday. Goyette continues a strong start to her freshman season after recording three consecutive rounds of 73 at last week's Red Raider Invitational. Takagi's high level of play to start the Blessings Collegiate is reminiscent of last season when she earned MAC Golfer of the Year honors. Both players are tied for 15th place in the field of 54 on the women's individual leaderboard entering round two.
After winning the individual title at the Red Raider Invitational last week, Veronika Kedronova recorded a 4-over-par 76 in Monday's first round. She is tied for 29th place in the individual standings ahead of round two. The freshman duo of Gracie Larsen and Aryn Matthews each fired 6-over-par rounds of 78 to round out the Flashes' women's team score in round one. They both sit tied for 38th place after one round of play.
After a strong first-round performance, Arkansas has developed a large lead on the women's team standings at 9-under-par. The Flashes sit four strokes behind fifth-placed Louisville and six strokes behind fourth-placed BYU as they look to climb the leaderboard in Tuesday and Wednesday's final two rounds.
A highlight of the day for the Flashes' men was the performance of Nolan Haynes. Competing in the Kent State lineup for the first time in his collegiate career, the freshman fired the joint-lowest score on the team in round one. With an even-par 72, Haynes is tied for seventh place in the field of 53 male golfers heading into Tuesday's second round.
Jordan Gilkison once again provided a steady presence within the Flashes' lineup in Monday's first round. The senior also fired an even-par 72 to sit tied with Haynes in seventh place following round one. The other two countable scores toward the team total for Kent State in round one came from Isaiah Ibit and Bryce Reed, who each recorded rounds of 7-over-par 79 to sit tied for 47th place entering round two.
Despite being in eighth place out of the field of ten, the Flashes' men are just three strokes behind Arkansas in third place, who recorded an 11-over-par round of 299. LSU leads the men's team leaderboard at 3-under-par after round one.
The Flashes will continue the Blessings Collegiate Invitational with round two on Tuesday, with tee times beginning at 10 a.m. EST. Live coverage on the Golf Channel will begin at 4:30 p.m. EST.
Blessings Collegiate Invitational Men's Standings (Round 1)
1. LSU: 285 (-3)
2. Mississippi: 287 (-1)
T-3. Arkansas: 299 (+11)
T-3. BYU: 299 (+11)
5. Ohio State: 300 (+12)
T-6. Louisville: 301 (+13)
T-6. Kansas State: 301 (+13)
8. Kent State: 302 (+14)
9. Virginia Tech: 303 (+15)
10. Missouri: 304 (+16)
Blessings Collegiate Invitational Women's Standings (Round 1)
1. Arkansas: 279 (-9)
2. Mississippi State: 286 (-2)
3. Kansas State: 288 (E)
4. BYU: 294 (+6)
5. Louisville: 296 (+8)
T-6. Missouri: 300 (+12)
T-6. Kent State: 300 (+12)
8. LSU: 303 (+15)
9. Ohio State: 308 (+20)
10. Virginia Tech: 312 (+24)
Kent State Men's Standings (Round 1)
T-7. Nolan Haynes: 72 (E)
T-7. Jordan Gilkison: 72 (E)
T-47. Isaiah Ibit: 79 (+7)
T-47. Bryce Reed: 79 (+7)
51. James Newton: 81 (+9)
Kent State Women's Standings (Round 1)
T-15. Leon Takagi: 73 (+1)
T-15. Isabella Goyette: 73 (+1)
T-29. Veronika Kedronova: 76 (+4)
T-38. Gracie Larsen: 78 (+6)
T-38. Aryn Matthews: 78 (+6)
Players Mentioned
