Men’s Golf in the Hunt Ahead of MAC Championship Final Round
4/28/2025 4:54:00 PM | Men's Golf
GROVE CITY, Ohio – The Kent State men's golf team used an impressive second round on Monday to climb to second place ahead of tomorrow's final round at the MAC Championship. Three Flashes fired rounds in the 60s as the team recorded a 12-under-par 276, the joint-best round of the tournament, to improve to 12-under-par overall through 36 holes.
Kent State will look to catch Eastern Michigan in Tuesday's final round, which also shot a 12-under-par 276 in round two to sit atop the leaderboard at 15-under-par, three strokes ahead of the Flashes. Only three teams have 36-hole scores under par, with Northern Illinois in third place at 4-under-par.
Jordan Gilkison once again led the Flashes on Monday, firing a 5-under-par 67 in round two. It matches the senior's best round of what has been a phenomenal season thus far and improves his tally of rounds in the 60s this season to 13. Gilkison recorded four birdies and an eagle at hole no. 11, bogeying just once in an impressive second round. He is alone in second place, four strokes behind the individual leader at 10-under-par, ahead of Tuesday's final round.
Isaiah Ibit fired his 12th round of the season in the 60s on Monday to climb into the top five of the individual standings. The freshman's impressive second-round effort was marked by a joint team-high six birdies. Ibit sits alone in fifth place at 3-under-par entering tomorrow's final round, one of just 12 golfers under par through 36 holes of play.
The third round in the 60s by a Kent State golfer on Monday was earned by Bryce Reed. The senior competing in his fourth consecutive MAC Championship also had six birdies on the day to fire a 3-under-par 69, with his lone blemish coming through a triple bogey at hole no. 16. Reed is now at 2-under-par for the tournament, climbing to a tie for sixth place individually ahead of tomorrow's third round.
The final countable score toward the Kent State team total on Monday was tallied by Nolan Haynes. After opening his tournament with a 3-over-par 75 yesterday, the freshman responded in round two with a 1-under-par 71. Five birdies propelled Haynes to his eighth round of par or better this season, climbing to a tie for 21st at 2-over-par through two rounds.
Edvin Backstrom is also tied for 21st at 2-over-par after shooting a 2-over-par 74 on Monday. The senior's second round was highlighted by a strong finish with an eagle at hole no. 18.
The Flashes will close the MAC Championship with round three set for tomorrow, April 29. Tee times are slated to begin at 9:50 a.m. for Kent State.
MAC Championship Results (Rounds 1-2)
1. Eastern Michigan: 285-276 = 561 (-15)
2. Kent State: 288-276 = 564 (-12)
3. Northern Illinois: 285-287 = 572 (-4)
4. Ball State: 293-284 = 577 (+1)
5. Miami: 297-282 = 579 (+3)
6. Toledo: 289-292 = 581 (+5)
7. Bowling Green: 297-288 = 585 (+9)
8. Ohio: 308-290 = 598 (+22)
9. Central Michigan: 303-305 = 608 (+32)
Kent State Results (Rounds 1-2)
2. Jordan Gilkison: 71-67 = 138 (-6)
5. Isaiah Ibit: 72-69 = 141 (-3)
T-6. Bryce Reed: 73-69 = 142 (-2)
T-21. Edvin Backstrom: 72-74 = 146 (+2)
T-21. Nolan Haynes: 75-71 = 146 (+2)
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Players Mentioned
