Ibit Top Five, Flashes Tied Sixth After General Hackler Round One
3/16/2025 5:37:00 PM | Men's Golf
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Kent State men's golf team began their second tournament of the Spring on Sunday with the opening round of the General Hackler Championship contested at the Dunes Golf & Beach Club. The Flashes are tied for sixth place among the 16 teams competing after round one after firing a 2-over-par 290.
The leader for the Flashes through 18 holes is Isaiah Ibit. The freshman continued his strong season on Sunday with a bogeyless 4-under-par 68 to begin his tournament. He opened the round with eight consecutive pars, before catching fire with four birdies in an eight-hole stretch. Sunday's 68 was Ibit's fourth consecutive round in the 60s to open his Spring and tenth round in the 60s in the 2024-2025 season. Ibit currently sits tied for third, just one stroke behind two golfers in first.
The other round of par or better on the day for Kent State came from Jordan Gilkison, who fired an even-par 72 in round one. After three birdies in his opening eight holes, a bogey and double bogey on hole no. 12 and 13 knocked the senior back to even-par. Gilkision sits tied for 24th ahead of tomorrow's second round. Competing as an individual this week, Edvin Backstrom opened his tournament with a solid 1-over-par 73 in a round which featured three birdies. Backstrom is tied for 38th after 18 holes of play.
The final two team scores countable toward the Kent State team total were recorded by Nolan Haynes and Bryce Reed. Haynes fired a 2-over-par 74 on Sunday and rounds out the Flashes currently in the top 50 as he sits tied for 49th. Reed opened his tournament with a 4-over-par 76 in a round which featured 12 pars to sit tied for 63rd ahead of Monday's second round.
The Flashes will return to action with round two of the General Hackler Invitational on Monday morning, with the team's tee times set to begin at 8:10 a.m. They will look to catch no. 1 Auburn, who leads the tournament after an impressive 10-under-par 278 in round one.
General Hackler Championship Results (Round 1)
1. Auburn: 278 (-10)
2. Duke: 281 (-7)
3. Baylor: 282 (-6)
T-4. Furman: 289 (+1)
T-4. Louisville: 289 (+1)
T-6. Kent State: 290 (+2)
T-6. Liberty: 290 (+2)
8. Wake Forest: 293 (+5)
T-9. North Florida: 294 (+6)
T-9. Charleston: 294 (+6)
T-11. East Tennessee State: 295 (+7)
T-11. Nevada: 295 (+7)
T-13. NC State: 296 (+8)
T-13. Missouri: 296 (+8)
15. Coastal Carolina: 297 (+9)
16. High Point: 299 (+11)
Kent State Results (Round 1)
T-3. Isaiah Ibit: 68 (-4)
T-24. Jordan Gilkison: 72 (E)
T-38. Edvin Backstrom (i): 73 (+1)
T-49. Nolan Haynes: 74 (+2)
T-63. Bryce Reed: 76 (+4)
T-84. Ramiro Acevedo: 79 (+7)
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