Kent State University
NCAA Regional Championships
Men’s Golf Preps for Amherst NCAA Regional
5/10/2025 7:28:00 PM | Men's Golf
The Kent State men's golf team begins its NCAA tournament journey this week with the Amherst, Virginia Regional set for Sunday, May 11 through Wednesday, May 14. Round one is now slated to begin on the afternoon of Sunday, May 11, rather than the originally scheduled date of Monday, May 12, due to expected inclement weather on Monday and Tuesday.
The Golden Flashes are making their 31st NCAA Regional appearance in program history.
Tournament Information:
Event: Amherst NCAA Regional
Host: Liberty
Location: Amherst, Virginia
Course: Poplar Grove Golf Club
Par/Yardage: Par 70 / 7,212 yards
Dates: May 11-14
Format: Stroke Play / 5-count-4 / 54 Holes
Live-Scoring: Scoreboard
Kent State Lineup:
1 – Jordan Gilkison
2 – Isaiah Ibit
3 – Bryce Reed
4 – Edvin Backstrom
5 – Nolan Haynes
Sub – Ramiro Acevedo
Participants:
Arizona (31)
Arkansas (55)
Florida Gulf Coast (56)
Howard (252)
Kent State (78)
LSU (6)
Oklahoma (7)
Pepperdine (19)
Princeton (82)
Stanford (42)
Tennessee (30)
Vanderbilt (18)
Wake Forest (43)
Rankings via Scoreboard
Notes:
- After claiming the program's 29th MAC Championship at Pinnacle Golf Club in the final week of April, Kent State is set to make its 31st NCAA regional appearance.
- The Flashes have advanced past the regional round to compete in the NCAA Championship 19 times in program history, most recently in 2018. The Flashes have won an NCAA Regional three times, most recently finishing atop the East Regional in 2010 at The Course at Yale.
- Head coach Jon Mills was named MAC Coach of the Year at the conclusion of the MAC Championship. In addition to leading the team to a conference title, Mills' squad also recorded a win at the Flyer Invitational in October, four top-three finishes, and six top-five finishes.
- Jordan Gilkison earned MAC Golfer of the Year honors after a senior season in which he had three individual wins, a team-best 70.88 scoring average, 24 of 33 rounds under par this season, and 13 rounds in the 60s. Gilkison was the individual medalist at the MAC Championship, finishing atop the individual standings at 8-under-par. He also earned First Team All-MAC honors.
- Isaiah Ibit completed a Kent State sweep of the big three MAC specialty awards, claiming MAC Freshman of the Year. Ibit's impressive debut collegiate season included 18 rounds of par or better, 12 rounds in the 60s, and a 72.39 scoring average. He became the first Kent State golfer to earn First Team All-MAC honors as a freshman since 2008. Ibit finished 15th at the MAC Championship, shooting 5-over-par.
- After earning a MAC All-Tournament honor at the MAC Championship, Bryce Reed was also selected to the All-MAC Second Team, rounding out three All-MAC selections for the Flashes. Reed finished in third place at the MAC Championship, his best finish of the season, at 4-under-par. He is third on the team with a 72.91 scoring average this season, firing 13 rounds of par or better and six rounds in the 60s.
- Nolan Haynes earned his first top-15 finish of the season at the MAC Championship, tying for 13th at 4-over-par. The freshman has been a consistent part of the Kent State lineup in the Spring, bringing his season tally to eight rounds of par or better.
- Edvin Backstrom has competed in the Flashes' last three events heading into the Amherst Regional. At the MAC Championship, he finished tied for 16th at 6-over-par. Backstrom boasts a 73.13 scoring average this season, including seven rounds of par or better and two rounds in the 60s.
- Ramiro Acevedo is once again a sub in the Kent State lineup after being an unused sub at the MAC Championship. Acevedo has tallied five top-15 finishes, ten rounds of par or better, and three rounds in the 60s this season. His 66 in round three of the Buckeye Invitational in April was the joint-lowest round by a Kent State golfer this season.
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Players Mentioned
