FORT WAYNE, Ind.- After being 10-strokes behind, the No. 29 Kent State men's golf team won its 25th Mid-American Championship title on Sunday at the Sycamore Hills Golf Course.
"After being behind in rounds two and three, the message was we have to play our game of golf," said head coach Herb Page. "They showed a lot of determination and just pecked away at it. They really finished strong and I think the key of the day was hole 15, we made three birdies and two really good pars and that put us in the lead. Coming down the stretch it was nerve wracking because we never could get the lead, I'm so proud of these young men for staying focused."
The Golden Flashes finished the four-round tournament with a score of 1196 (293-306-301-296). After trailing the leader, Ball State, by 10-strokes heading into the final of golf, the Flashes finished the day with a 309 (+8) score. Kent State won the tournament by three strokes.
Kent State also took individual medalist honors, with Ian Holt finishing first overall. Over four rounds, the senior finished at 7-over par 295, coming from fifth place to take the win. Holt finished the fourth round mirroring his third round score of even par.
Bjarki Petursson, the runner-up medalist, finished second after being the only golfer to shoot under par in the fourth round carding a 1-under 71 score. Petursson finished the tournament one stroke behind teammate Holt at 296 (+8) and led the whole tournament with 16 birdies.
Finishing in the top-10 was Chase Johnson who completed the tournament with a 303 (+15) score. Johnson finished the day at 4-over 76. After his three birdies in the final round, Johnson totaled nine over the course of the tournament.
Gisli Sveinbergsson finished in a tie for 14th at 306 (+18) after completing the fourth round at 5-over par 77. Rounding out the Flashes' lineup was Josh Gilkison in 22nd. Gilkison carded a fourth-round score of 79 (+7) and finished the tournament at 312 (+24).
After the tournament, Kent State would bring home several pieces of hardware. Holt headlined postseason award winners as the 2018 MAC Golfer of the year and named to the First-Team All-MAC. For the third straight year, head coach Herb Page was named the Kermit Blosser Coach of the Year. Johnson, Petursson, and Sveinbergsson joined Holt to make up the four of the five members of the All-Mac First team. The same Petersson and Holt were also named to the All-Tournament team. Gilkison also was awarded postseason honors and named to the All- MAC Second Team.
The Flashes will move on to the NCAA Regional Tournament May 14-16. Regional sites in 2018 are Raleigh, N.C., Bryan Texas, Columbus, Ohio, Kissimmee, Fla., Norman, Oklah., and Stockton, Calif. The Flashes will find out the seed and destination during the selection show, airing on the Golf Channel May 2 at 5:30 p.m.
