Goyette Leads Briar’s Creek Invitational After Round One
3/9/2025 6:17:00 PM | Women's Golf
JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. – The Kent State women's golf team teed up for their third tournament of the Spring on Sunday with the opening round of the Briar's Creek Invitational contested at the Golf Club of Briar's Creek. Isabella Goyette was the storyline of round one for Kent State, leading the event at 6-under-par after recording a 66 to open the tournament. As a team, the Flashes sit in second among the 17 teams competing at 1-over-par.
Due to expected inclement weather on Monday, the tournament has moved to a 36-hole format. The second and final round of the Briar's Creek Invitational will take place on Tuesday as Goyette looks to defend pole position and the Flashes look to catch no. 6 Florida State atop the team standings, as the Seminoles lead the Flashes by nine strokes at 8-under-par.
Goyette caught fire on Sunday, specifically on her final nine holes of the day. After sitting at even-par through her first nine, the freshman ripped off three consecutive birdies to open her back-nine, followed shortly by an eagle at the par-5 hole no. 5. She concluded her day with two birdies in a three hole stretch to wrap up her career-best round of 66. On holes one through nine, which were her back-nine after starting her day at hole no. 10, Goyette tallied an impressive 6-under 30.
Another Flash who sits in the top-20 after 18 holes is Leon Takagi. The junior recorded a 1-over-par 73 on Sunday, featuring four birdies, to sit tied for 20th ahead of Tuesday's final round. Freshman Gracie Larsen, who is one of two Flashes to earn a MAC Golfer of the Week award this Spring, followed Takagi closely with a consistent 2-over-par 74, featuring 14 pars, to sit tied for 29th after round one.
The final score countable toward the Kent State team total was recorded by Veronika Kedronova. The team leader in scoring average, and other Flash to win a MAC Golfer of the Week award this Spring, tallied a 4-over-par 76 in her opening round on Sunday. She sits tied for 47th with 18 holes remaining on Tuesday.
Competing as an individual, Petra Babicova rounds out a trio of Kent State golfers in the top 20 after round one as she is also tied for 20th place at 1-over-par with a 73. Babicova tallied four birdies in her opening round on Sunday.
The Flashes will have an extra day of rest as the final round of the now 36-hole Briar's Creek Invitational will take place on Tuesday.
Briar's Creek Invitational Standings (Round 1)
1. Florida State: 280 (-8)
2. Kent State: 289 (+1)
T-3. NC State: 291 (+3)
T-3. Purdue: 291 (+3)
T-5. Charleston: 293 (+5)
T-5. Maryland: 293 (+5)
T-5. East Carolina: 293 (+5)
T-5. SMU: 293 (+5)
9. Miami: 295 (+7)
T-10. Iowa: 297 (+9)
T-10. Campbell: 297 (+9)
12. Old Dominion: 303 (+15)
13. Tulsa: 306 (+18)
14. Minnesota: 308 (+20)
15. Penn State: 310 (+22)
16. Furman: 312 (+24)
17. Rutgers: 315 (+27)
Kent State Standings (Round 1)
1. Isabella Goyette: 66 (-6)
T-20. Leon Takagi: 73 (+1)
T-20. Petra Babicova (i): 73 (+1)
T-29. Gracie Larsen: 74 (+2)
T-47. Veronika Kedronova: 76 (+4)
T-61. Aryn Matthews: 77 (+5)
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