Kent State University
MAC Championship
Men’s Golf Wins 29th MAC Championship, Gilkison Claims Individual Title
4/29/2025 7:36:00 PM | Men's Golf
GROVE CITY, Ohio – The Kent State men's golf team pulled away in the final round of the MAC Championship on Tuesday at Pinnacle Golf Club to claim the program's 29th MAC title. Jordan Gilkison won the individual conference title, posting a 2-under-par 70 in round three to finish atop the 45 golfers competing at 8-under-par.
The Golden Flashes won their first MAC Championship since 2022 in dominant fashion. Kent State was the only team among the nine competing to finish with a 54-hole score under par at 10-under-par, 16 strokes ahead of runner-up Ball State at 6-over-par. It is the third conference title the Flashes have won under head coach Jon Mills, who led the team to MAC Championships in 2021 and 2022.
Gilkison used a strong third round to come back from a four-stroke deficit entering the day and claim the individual crown. The senior was one of just three golfers to fire a score under par on Tuesday with his 2-under-par 70. Gilkison fired four birdies to just two bogeys in round three to finish three strokes ahead of the runner-up. He also celebrates his second team MAC Championship, as Gilkison was a member of the 2022 MAC champion squad.
Another member of the 2022 Golden Flashes squad notching his second MAC title is Bryce Reed. The senior was also one of the three golfers to post a score under par on Tuesday, recording a 2-under-par 70 to climb to third place among the final individual standings. Reed ends his tournament at 4-under-par, one of just seven golfers to tally a 54-hole score under par.
Nolan Haynes climbed eight spots up the leaderboard during Tuesday's final round to clinch a top-15 finish in his MAC Championship debut. The freshman fired a 2-over-par 74, powered by four birdies, to finish tied for 13th. It marks the highest finish of the season in ten official appearances for Haynes.
Edvin Backstrom recorded Kent State's final score countable toward the team total in round three to help the team secure the title. The senior posted a 4-over-par 76 to climb to tied for 16th place in the final individual standings. Backstrom concludes the MAC Championship at 6-over-par.
Despite posting an 8-over-par 80 in round three, freshman Isaiah Ibit secured his fifth top-15 finish of the season. Ibit sits alone in 15th among the final individual standings at 5-over-par.
With the conference title, the Golden Flashes advance to the NCAA Regional round. The team will find out their regional destination during the selection show, which will be aired live on Wednesday, April 30, at 1 p.m. on the Golf Channel.
MAC Championship Results (Final)
1. Kent State: 288-276-290 = 854 (-10)
2. Ball State: 293-284-293 = 870 (+6)
3. Eastern Michigan: 285-276-311 = 872 (+8)
4. Northern Illinois: 285-287-303 = 875 (+11)
5. Miami: 297-282-300 = 879 (+15)
6. Toledo: 289-292-301 = 882 (+18)
7. Bowling Green: 297-288-325 = 910 (+46)
8. Ohio: 308-290-315 = 913 (+49)
9. Central Michigan: 303-305-313 = 921 (+57)
Kent State Results (Final)
1. Jordan Gilkison: 71-67-70 = 208 (-8)
3. Bryce Reed: 73-69-70 = 212 (-4)
T-13. Nolan Haynes: 75-71-74 = 220 (+4)
15. Isaiah Ibit: 72-69-80 = 221 (+5)
T-16. Edvin Backstrom: 72-74-76 = 222 (+6)
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Players Mentioned
