Flashes in Seventh after Day One of Amherst NCAA Regional
5/11/2025 9:30:00 PM | Men's Golf
AMHERST, Va. – The Kent State men's golf team began its NCAA regional journey on Sunday with the opening round of the Amherst Regional at Poplar Grove Golf Club. With three Kent State golfers still needing to complete a handful of holes after play was suspended on Sunday evening due to darkness, the Flashes sit in seventh place among the 12 teams competing at 3-over-par.
Round one was originally scheduled to commence on Monday, but was moved up to Sunday afternoon due to anticipated inclement weather on Monday and Tuesday. With players getting in a practice round on Sunday morning, the final few groups, including three Kent State golfers, could not conclude round one on Sunday before sunset.
To advance from the Amherst Regional to the NCAA Championship, the Flashes must finish among the top five teams. Currently, in seventh place after day one, Kent State trails fifth-place Pepperdine by three strokes at even-par and first-place Tennessee by 12 strokes at 9-under-par.
The Flashes' best score to par on Sunday was a complete round by Edvin Backstrom, who fired a 1-under-par 69. Backstrom used four birdies to just three bogeys to record his third round in the 60s this season. He is one of just 19 players with a score currently under par, sitting tied for 11th among the 75-golfer field.
With three holes to play on Monday morning, Isaiah Ibit holds Kent State's second-best score to par at even-par through 15 holes played. The freshman making an NCAA Regional appearance in his debut collegiate season had three birdies and three bogeys on Sunday. Ibit is tied for 20th ahead of the conclusion of round one and the beginning of round two on Monday.
The final two current first-round counting scores toward the Kent State team total are held by Bryce Reed and Jordan Gilkison, who are each at 2-over-par with additional first-round golf to play on Monday morning. Reed completed 17 holes on Sunday, carding a joint team-high four birdies with just one hole remaining before round two begins on Monday. Gilkison still has three holes to finish in his opening round, tallying 12 pars out of 15 holes completed on Sunday. The senior duo of Reed and Gilkison are each tied for 38th individually entering Monday morning.
Round one play is slated to resume at 7:30 on Monday morning for the three Kent State golfers with incomplete rounds. Round two is scheduled for later in the morning, with tee times beginning at approximately 10:30 a.m.
Follow the Flashes
For complete coverage of Kent State Athletics, download the official Kent State Golden Flashes app (iOS, Android) and follow Kent State Golf on social media on X and Instagram for news and updates.
