Gilkison Second, Flashes Fourth After Opening Day of Buckeye Classic
4/11/2025 9:26:00 PM | Men's Golf
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Kent State men's golf team inched closer to the home stretch of the season with the opening two rounds of the Buckeye Classic on Friday contested at Columbus Country Club. The Flashes posted a 4-over-par 292 in round one before improving with a 6-under-par 282 in round two to sit at 2-under-par in fourth place among the 13 teams competing after 36 holes.
Jordan Gilkison recorded the low score for Kent State in both rounds on Friday. The standout senior started his day with a 2-under-par 70, followed by a 5-under-par 67 in round two. Gilkison tallied nine birdies and an eagle on the par-4 hole no. 12 in round two en route to improving his season tally of rounds of par or better to 18 and rounds in the 60s to 11. Gilkison sits in second place ahead of tomorrow's third round, trailing the individual leader by two strokes as he seeks the second individual win of his career after finishing atop the Flyer Invitational in September.
After being given the opportunity to compete as an individual this weekend, freshman Darcy Hogg has taken advantage through two rounds. He opened the day with an even-par 72 in round one ahead of a 2-under-par 70 in round two, the best round of his young collegiate career. Hogg sits tied for 11th among the 81 players competing ahead of Saturday's final round.
The Flashes received another strong senior performance from Bryce Reed, who is inside the top 15 after 36 holes of play. Reed posted a 1-under-par 71 in round one, before closing his day with a 1-over-par 73 as he is even-par through two rounds. At a tie for 14th place, Reed will seek his third top-15 finish of the season in tomorrow's final round.
The fourth and final Kent State golfer inside the top 20 through two rounds is Edvin Backstrom, who is also competing as an individual this weekend. The senior utilized four birdies to post an even-par 72 in his first round of the day before firing a 1-over-par 73 to end the day at 1-over-par overall and tied for 18th place.
The Flashes' other two countable scores toward the team total in both rounds came from the freshman duo of Isaiah Ibit and Ramiro Acevedo. Ibit tallied a 2-over-par 74 followed by an even-par 72 to sit tied for 26th through two rounds of play. After posting a 5-over-par 77 in round one, Acevedo improved as the day wore on with a 2-under-par 70 in round two, his ninth round of par or better this season. Acevedo is tied for 32nd ahead of Saturday's third and final round.
The Flashes will close the Buckeye Classic on Saturday as they look to catch leaders Michigan at 15-under-par atop the team standings. Tee times are set to begin at 8 a.m. in Columbus.
Buckeye Classic Results (Rounds 1-2)
1. Michigan: 283-278 = 561 (-15)
2. Ohio State: 287-277 = 564 (-12)
3. Miami (OH): 286-279 = 565 (-11)
4. Kent State: 292-282 = 574 (-2)
5. Eastern Kentucky: 287-289 = 576 (E)
6. Ohio: 292-291 = 583 (+7)
T-7. Robert Morris: 292-297 = 589 (+13)
T-7. Abilene Christian: 292-297 = 589 (+13)
T-9. Dayton: 298-296 = 594 (+18)
T-9. Bowling Green: 299-295 = 594 (+18)
11. Le Moyne: 302-295 = 597 (+21)
12. Colgate: 302-296 = 598 (+22)
13. Purdue Fort Wayne: 295-304 = 599 (+23)
Kent State Results (Rounds 1-2)
2. Jordan Gilkison: 70-67 = 137 (-7)
T-11. Darcy Hogg (i): 72-70 = 142 (-2)
T-14. Bryce Reed: 71-73 = 144 (E)
T-18. Edvin Backstrom (i): 72-73 = 145 (+1)
T-26. Isaiah Ibit: 74-72 = 146 (+2)
T-32. Ramiro Acevedo: 77-70 = 147 (+3)
T-50. James Newton (i): 74-76 = 150 (+6)
T-60. Nolan Haynes: 77-76 = 153 (+9)
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