Flashes Firmly in Race to Advance Ahead of Columbus Regional Final Round
5/6/2025 4:02:00 PM | Women's Golf
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Kent State women's golf team battled the elements in round two of the Columbus NCAA Regional at OSU Golf Club on Tuesday to remain in the hunt for an NCAA Championship berth. The Golden Flashes fired an 18-over-par 306 in round two to sit at 17-over-par and tied for sixth place through 36 holes. The conditions saw many high scores posted across the course on Tuesday, with all 12 teams recording scores over par and only three teams earning scores of 10-over-par or better.
To advance to the NCAA Championship in Carlsbad, California, the Flashes must finish among the top five teams at the Columbus Regional. The team trails SMU, who currently occupies fifth place, by just one stroke entering tomorrow's final round. The top four teams have gained some separation from the field, all currently possessing scores of 6-over-par or better.
The Flashes continue to be led through two rounds by MAC Freshman of the Year Gracie Larsen. The Australian native tallied a 2-over-par 74 in round two to sit at 1-over-par ahead of round three. Larsen is tied for eighth place among the field of 67, trailing the individual leader at 5-under-par by just six strokes. If the team does not advance to the NCAA Championship in tomorrow's final round, Larsen or one of her Kent State teammates will have the opportunity to advance as an individual if she is the highest individual finisher not on an advancing team.
Another freshman who has impressed for the Flashes in the opening two rounds is Aryn Matthews, who matched Larsen with a 2-over-par 74 on Tuesday. Matthews tallied a team-high 14 pars in round two to sit at 2-over-par ahead of round three. She is tied for tenth place individually, also squarely in the race for the individual qualifier in the event the Flashes do not advance to the NCAA Championship as a team.
The final two countable scores toward the Kent State team total on Tuesday were recorded by a pair of NCAA Regional veterans in Veronika Kedronova and Leon Takagi. Kedronova posted the Flashes' third-best score of the day with a 6-over-par 78. She is tied for 25th through two rounds of play at 5-over-par. Takagi recorded an 8-over-par 80 in round two to sit at 15-over-par and in 60th place ahead of Wednesday's final round.
The Flashes will conclude the Columbus Regional and chase a bid to the NCAA Championship in the third and final round on Wednesday, May 7, at OSU Golf Club. Tee times for Kent State are set to begin at 8:55 a.m.
Columbus Regional Results (Rounds 1-2)
1. Arkansas: 282-298 = 580 (+4)
2. UNLV: 287-294 = 581(+5)
T-3. Kansas: 289-293 = 582 (+6)
T-3. Ohio State: 279-303 = 582 (+6)
5. SMU: 289-303 = 592 (+16)
T-6. Kent State: 287-306 = 593 (+17)
T-6. LSU: 284-309 = 593 (+17)
8. Houston: 295-301 = 596 (+20)
9. Xavier: 289-310 = 599 (+23)
10. Illinois: 289-311 = 600 (+24)
11. Illinois State: 299-318 = 617 (+41)
12. Oakland: 310-324 = 634 (+58)
Kent State Results (Rounds 1-2)
T-8. Gracie Larsen: 71-74 = 145 (+1)
T-10. Aryn Matthews: 72-74 = 146 (+2)
T-25. Veronika Kedronova: 71-78 = 149 (+5)
59. Isabella Goyette: 73-85 = 158 (+14)
60. Leon Takagi: 79-80 = 159 (+15)
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