Takagi and Kedronova Impress as Flashes Sit Second at Buckeye Invitational
4/12/2025 8:34:00 PM | Women's Golf
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Kent State women's golf team kicked off their final tournament ahead of the MAC Championship on Saturday with an impressive opening two rounds of the Therese Hession Buckeye Invitational at OSU Golf Club. The Flashes collectively posted a strong opening 36 holes, sitting in second place among the 13 teams competing after firing a 13-over-par 301 in round one and a 2-over-par 290 in the day's second round, the best round by any team in the tournament thus far.
The Flashes were led by a pair of strong days from Leon Takagi and Veronika Kedronova who are both tied for second at 3-under-par after 36 holes. The duo is two of just four golfers under par after two rounds of play, trailing the current leader by two strokes entering tomorrow's final round.
Takagi opened her day with a 1-under-par 71, featuring three birdies and just two bogeys, before further improving with a 2-under-par 70 in round two. Her second-round 70 is Takagi's lowest round of the season, highlighted by a strong finish with three birdies in her final four holes. Takagi is seeking her best finish of the season in tomorrow's final round, a mark she set by tying for 17th in her previous outing at the Florida State Match Up.
Kedronova began the day with a 1-over-par 73 in round one, before catching fire to record a 4-under-par 68 in the day's second round. She recorded a bogey-free second round, featuring four birdies, for her fifth round in the 60s this season. Kedronova will look to challenge for her third individual win of the season in Sunday's third round, after claiming first place at the Red Raider Invitational and Sunflower Classic in the Fall.
Freshman Aryn Matthews sits inside the top 20 for Kent State after 36 holes, tied for 16th at 9-over-par. She tallied a 4-over-par 76 in round one, finishing strongly with four birdies on her final five holes, before earning a 5-over-par 77 in round two. Matthews will attempt to secure her third top-15 finish of the season in tomorrow's third round, setting a season-best 11th-place finish at the Sunflower Classic in October.
The final countable score toward the Kent State team total in both rounds was recorded by Gracie Larsen, who is tied for 25th at 12-over-par after two rounds of play. The freshman from Australia posted a 9-over-par 81 in round one, before marking a six-stroke improvement in round two with a 3-over-par 75.
Kent State will look to catch tournament host no. 17 Ohio State in Sunday's third and final round, as the Buckeyes hold a six-stroke lead over Kent State at 9-over-par. The final round of the Buckeye Invitational is set to begin on Sunday morning.
Therese Hession Buckeye Invitational Standings (Rounds 1-2)
1. Ohio State: 294-291 = 585 (+9)
2. Kent State: 301-290 = 591 (+15)
3. Michigan State: 295-297 = 592 (+16)
4. Rutgers: 308-302 = 610 (+34)
5. Indiana: 309-302 = 611 (+35)
T-6. Wisconsin: 311-310 = 621 (+45)
T-6. Ball State: 315-306 = 621 (+45)
8. Grand Valley State: 309-315 = 624 (+48)
9. Findlay: 319-306 = 625 (+49)
10. Youngstown State: 314-321 = 635 (+59)
11. Northern Illinois: 326-316 = 642 (+66)
12. Western Michigan: 324-321 = 645 (+69)
13. Ohio: 327-321 = 648 (+72)
Kent State Standings (Rounds 1-2)
T-2. Veronika Kedronova: 73-68 = 141 (-3)
T-2. Leon Takagi: 71-70 = 141 (-3)
T-16. Aryn Matthews: 76-77 = 153 (+9)
T-25. Gracie Larsen: 81-75 = 156 (+12)
T-57. Isabella Goyette: 83-80 = 163 (+19)
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