Flashes in Eighth Through Round Two of Amherst NCAA Regional
5/12/2025 6:43:00 PM | Men's Golf
AMHERST, Va. – The Kent State men's golf team persevered through rainy weather conditions on Monday to complete round two of the Amherst NCAA Regional at Poplar Grove Golf Club. After completing a 2-over-par 282 round one in the morning, the Flashes posted a 12-over-par 292 in round two to sit tied for eighth place at 14-over-par ahead of round three.
Kent State will need a strong effort in the final round to climb into the top five of the regional team standings and secure a spot in the NCAA Championships. The Flashes currently trail fifth-placed Florida Gulf Coast by nine strokes at 5-over-par. Tennessee holds the top spot in the regional through 36 holes at 4-under-par, one of just two teams under par at the end of round two.
The story of the day for Kent State was the play of MAC Golfer of the Year Jordan Gilkison. After capping a first-round 2-over-par 72 with three pars this morning, the senior fired a 4-under-par 66 in round two to climb into the top five of the individual standings. Gilkison tallied five birdies and just one bogey in round two to record his lowest round of the season. In the event that the Flashes do not advance as a team, Gilkison will look to compete for an individual qualifier spot to the NCAA Championship, earned by the highest individual finisher not on an advancing team at each regional.
Isaiah Ibit began the day strong for the Flashes, firing a birdie on his final hole of round one to earn a 1-under-par 69, the joint-lowest first-round score on the team. Ibit then had an up-and-down second round, posting the Flashes' second-best score of the day with a 4-over-par 74. He had four birdies in the second round and is tied for 28th place ahead of round three at 3-over-par.
The other three golfers to compete for Kent State in round two on Monday each carded scores of 76 at 6-over-par. After finishing a 1-under-par 69 last night, a 6-over-par 76 from Edvin Backstrom brings him to 5-over-par for the tournament and tied for 43rd. Bryce Reed closed his first round with a par this morning before also shooting a 6-over-par 76 in round two. Reed is tied for 53rd at 8-over-par ahead of the third and final round. Ramiro Acevedo was inserted into the Flashes' second-round lineup on Monday as a substitute for Nolan Haynes. Despite tallying three birdies, Acevedo was the third Kent State golfer to end the day with a 6-over-par 76.
The third and final round of the Amherst Regional is currently slated to be played on Tuesday, May 13, weather permitting. Tee times will begin at 9 a.m.
Amherst Regional Results (Rounds 1-2)
1. Tennessee: 271-285 = 556 (-4)
2. Vanderbilt: 278-279 = 557 (-3)
3. Oklahoma: 276-285 = 561 (+1)
4. Arizona: 286-278 = 564 (+4)
5. Florida Gulf Coast: 282-283 = 565 (+5)
6. Arkansas: 280-286 = 566 (+6)
7. Pepperdine: 280-292 = 572 (+12)
T-8. Kent State: 282-292 = 574 (+14)
T-8. Stanford: 290-284 = 574 (+14)
T-8. Wake Forest: 284-290 = 574 (+14)
11. LSU: 286-289 = 575 (+15)
12. Princeton: 284-301 = 585 (+25)
13. Howard: 304-306 = 610 (+50)
Kent State Results (Rounds 1-2)
T-5. Jordan Gilkison: 72-66 = 138 (-2)
T-28. Isaiah Ibit: 69-74 = 143 (+5)
T-43. Edvin Backstrom: 69-76 = 145 (+5)
T-53. Bryce Reed: 72-76 = 148 (+8)
Ramiro Acevedo: XX-76 (+6)
Nolan Haynes: 76-XX (+6)
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