Flashes in the Mix at Hal Williams Intercollegiate
2/10/2025 8:34:00 PM | Men's Golf
MOBILE, Ala. – The Kent State men's golf team opened the 2025 Spring season on Monday with the first two rounds of the Hal Williams Intercollegiate contested at RTJ Magnolia Grove Golf Club. The Flashes find themselves in second place after 36 holes, posting an 8-under-par 276 and 4-under-par 280 on day one.
Following a similar script to much of the Fall season, the Flashes were led by Jordan Gilkison in the opening two rounds. The senior began his day with a 4-under-par 67 in round one before firing a 2-under-par 69 in round two to sit at 6-under-par and tied for sixth place among the field of 75 players after 36 holes. Gilkison recorded nine birdies to just three bogeys on what was an impressive day to open his final collegiate Spring season.
After an impressive freshman Fall season, Isaiah Ibit opened his first collegiate Spring season closely behind Gilkison. Ibit sits at 5-under-par after round two after posting rounds of 68 and 69 on Monday, playing almost flawless golf with just one bogey through 36 holes. The freshman is inside the top 10 heading into tomorrow's final round, tied for eighth place and seven strokes behind the individual leader.
Competing as an individual this week, Bryce Reed had an impressive start to his tournament on Monday. Reed is the third Golden Flash inside the top ten, sitting at 4-under-par through round two after rounds of 71 and 67. A bogey-free second round enabled Reed to record the joint-lowest score of the tournament thus far for Kent State.
The final two countable scores toward the team total in round one came from Edvin Backstrom and Nolan Haynes. Backstrom fired a 1-under-par 70, featuring five birdies, in round one, before recording a 2-over-par 73 in round two to sit tied for 41st place at 1-over-par. The freshman Haynes tallied an even-par 71 in round, highlighted by four birdies. After a 2-over-par 73 in round two, he is tied for 46th place at 2-over-par entering Tuesday's third round. The final countable score in round two for Kent State was from Ramiro Acevedo, who recovered from a 5-over-par 76 in round one with a 2-under-par 69 in round two, including an eagle on par-5 hole no. 6. Acevedo is tied for 53rd ahead of tomorrow's third and final round.
On the team leaderboard, the Flashes will look to catch no. 15 SMU, the lone team ahead of Kent State atop the leaderboard. The Mustangs capped an impressive first day at 20-under-par to hold an eight-stroke lead over the second-place Flashes.
Hal Williams Intercollegiate Results (Rounds 1-2)
1. SMU: 274-274 = 548 (-20)
2. Kent State: 276-280 = 556 (-12)
T-3. Kansas State: 275-282 = 557 (-11)
T-3. Memphis: 283-274 = 557 (-11)
5. Texas State: 278-281 = 559 (-9)
6. UAB: 281-279 = 560 (-8)
7. Davidson: 281-280 = 561 (-7)
T-8. Southern Illinois: 284-278 = 562 (-6)
T-8. Southern Mississippi: 287-275 = 562 (-6)
10. Oral Roberts: 287-277 = 564 (-4)
11. Louisiana Tech: 287-283 = 570 (+2)
T-12. Seton Hall: 289-283 = 572 (+4)
T-12. South Alabama: 291-281 = 572 (+4)
Kent State Results (Rounds 1-2)
T-6. Jordan Gilkison: 67-69 = 136 (-6)
T-8. Isaiah Ibit: 68-69 = 137 (-5)
T-10. Bryce Reed (i): 71-67 = 138 (-4)
T-41. Edvin Backstrom: 70-73 = 143 (+1)
T-46. Nolan Haynes: 71-73 = 144 (+2)
T-53. Ramiro Acevedo: 76-69 = 145 (+3)
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Players Mentioned
