Flashes Six Back of Lead at Robert Kepler Invitational
4/18/2025 9:07:00 PM | Men's Golf
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State men's golf team began their final tournament before the MAC Championship with the opening two rounds of the Robert Kepler Invitational on Friday contested at OSU Golf Club. The Flashes sit tied for fifth at 27-over-par after a gusty opening day on the course, posting an 11-over-par 295 in round one and a 16-over-par 300 in round two.
Kent State sits just six strokes back of Nebraska, who lead the 13-team field after 36 holes of play at 21-over-par.
Jordan Gilkison led the Flashes on Friday as he is tied for ninth at 4-over-par with two rounds in the books. The star senior posted an even-par 71 in round one, the team's only round of par or better on the day. He concluded the day with a 4-over-par 75 in round two, tallying five birdies across two rounds. Gilkison is just seven strokes behind the individual leader entering Saturday's third round, who sits atop the 72-golfer leaderboard at 3-under-par.
Isaiah Ibit continued a strong freshman season on Friday in the opening two rounds of the Robert Kepler Invitational. Ibit posted a team-high three birdies in round one en route to recording a 2-over-par 73. In round two, Ibit tallied 14 pars en route to carding a 5-over-par 76. He is tied for 17th at 7-over-par ahead of Saturday's final round, seeking his sixth top-20 finish of the season.
After posting a 6-over-par 77 in round one, Edvin Backstrom earned Kent State's highest round two score with a 2-over-par 73. The senior tallied three birdies on the day to climb into the top 20 at 8-over-par through 36 holes. Backstrom is seeking his second consecutive top 20 finish after concluding last weekend's Buckeye Classic tied for 13th.
Bryce Reed rounds out four Flashes inside the top 20 through two rounds at the Robert Kepler Invitational, sitting level with Backstrom and tied for 20th at 8-over-par. The senior posted a 3-over-par 74 in round one, highlighted by a 1-under-par front nine, before carding a 5-over-par 76 in round two. Similarly to Backstrom, Reed is seeking his second consecutive top-20 finish after tying for 16th at the Buckeye Classic last weekend.
Competing as an individual this weekend, Nolan Haynes recovered from a 7-over-par 78 first-round score with a 2-under-par 73 in round two. Haynes' second-round performance enabled him to climb 21 spots on the individual leaderboard, as his three birdies were the joint-most by a Kent State golfer in round two. Haynes is tied for 30th at 9-over-par entering Saturday's third round.
The Flashes will close out the Robert Kepler Invitational and look to climb the leaderboard with round three on Saturday.
Robert Kepler Invitational Standings (Rounds 1-2)
1. Nebraska: 297-292 = 589 (+21)
2. UMKC: 291-299 = 590 (+22)
3. Ohio State: 296-296 = 592 (+24)
4. Eastern Michigan: 297-296 = 593 (+25)
T-5. Kent State: 295-300 = 595 (+27)
T-5. Cal Poly: 305-290 = 595 (+27)
7. Minnesota: 300-300 = 600 (+32)
T-8. St. John's: 302-306 = 608 (+40)
T-8. St. Thomas: 303-305 = 608 (+40)
10. Tarleton State: 298-313 = 611 (+43)
11. Colorado State: 313-301 = 614 (+46)
12. Creighton: 304-312 = 616 (+48)
13. Omaha: 311-310 = 621 (+53)
Kent State Standings (Rounds 1-2)
T-9. Jordan Gilkison: 71-75 = 146 (+4)
T-17. Isaiah Ibit: 73-76 = 149 (+7)
T-20. Edvin Backstrom: 77-73 = 150 (+8)
T-20. Bryce Reed: 74-76 = 150 (+8)
T-30. Nolan Haynes (i): 78-73 = 151 (+9)
T-64. Ramiro Acevedo: 80-80 = 160 (+18)
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