Kent State University
Buckeye Invitational
Gilkison Claims Second Win of Career at Buckeye Classic
4/12/2025 6:50:00 PM | Men's Golf
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Kent State senior Jordan Gilkison fired a 4-under-par 68 in Saturday's final round of the Buckeye Classic to earn the second win of his collegiate career. Gilkison caps a phenomenal 54-hole showing at 11-under-par, finishing two strokes ahead of the runner-up.
The Flashes team posted their best score of the event in round three with a 7-under-par 281 to conclude the Buckeye Classic in fourth place among the 13 teams competing. Tournament host Ohio State narrowly finished atop the standings at 18-under-par. Four Kent State golfers earned top 20 finishes in the event, each posting 54-hole scores of par or better.
Gilkison also earned the first win of his collegiate career in the state of Ohio, last September at the Flyer Classic. His 11-under-par showing at the Buckeye Classic is the best 54-hole score to par for Gilkison in what has been a phenomenal senior season to date. Gilkison clinched this weekend's victory with a bogey-free third round on Saturday, tallying four birdies and 14 pars to finish atop the 81-player field.
Freshman Ramiro Acevedo fired the low round of the weekend by a Kent State golfer on Saturday with a 6-under-par 66 in round three. His team-high seven birdies to just one bogey enabled Acevedo to finish with the lowest round of his young collegiate career. Acevedo earns his third top-ten finish and fifth top-15 finish of the season after concluding the event in ninth at 3-under-par.
Edvin Backstrom posted the best finish among three individuals competing for Kent State this weekend, firing a 2-under-par 70 in round three to finish tied for 13th at 1-under-par across three rounds. The senior earns his second-highest finish of the season, improving his number of rounds of par or better to five.
The final top-20 finisher in the Buckeye Classic for Kent State was Bryce Reed. The senior shot an even-par 72 in the third round, concluding his tournament at even par through 54 holes. Reed finishes the Buckeye Classic tied for 16th to earn his third top-20 finish of the season, firing three birdies on the back nine in round three to finish the event strongly.
Kent State's final score countable toward the team total in round three was posted by Isaiah Ibit. The talented freshman tallied a 3-over-par 75, finishing his day with a 1-under-par back nine, to conclude the tournament at 5-over-par and tied for 34th place. The Flashes had another impressive individual finisher in Darcy Hogg, who finished tied for 22nd in just his third appearance of the season as a freshman. Hogg fired a 4-over-par 76 on Saturday to end the Buckeye Classic at 2-over-par.
The Flashes have just one tournament remaining before heading to the MAC Championship, as they will return to Columbus on Friday, April 18, for the Robert Kepler Invitational at OSU Golf Club.
Buckeye Classic Results (Final)
1. Ohio State: 287-277-282 = 846 (-18)
2. Michigan: 283-278-286 = 847 (-17)
3. Miami (OH): 286-279-284 = 849 (-15)
4. Kent State: 292-282-281 = 855 (-9)
5. Eastern Kentucky: 287-289-287 = 863 (-1)
6. Ohio: 292-291-292 = 875 (+11)
T-7. Dayton: 298-296-284 = 878 (+14)
T-7. Robert Morris: 292-297-289 = 878 (+14)
9. Abilene Christian: 292-297-294 = 883 (+19)
T-10. Purdue Fort Wayne: 295-304-295 = 894 (+30)
T-10. Bowling Green: 299-295-300 = 894 (+30)
12. Colgate: 302-297-296 = 895 (+31)
13. Le Moyne: 302-295-310 = 907 (+43)
Kent State Results (Final)
1. Jordan Gilkison: 70-67-68 = 205 (-11)
9. Ramiro Acevedo: 77-70-66 = 213 (-3)
T-13. Edvin Backstrom (i): 72-73-70 = 215 (-1)
T-16. Bryce Reed: 71-73-72 = 216 (E)
T-22. Darcy Hogg (i): 72-70-76 = 218 (+2)
T-34. Isaiah Ibit: 74-72-75 = 221 (+5)
T-51. James Newton (i): 74-76-74 = 224 (+8)
T-64. Nolan Haynes: 77-76-77 = 230 (+14)
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