Golden Flashes win 18-hole event with a three-over 287

TOLEDO, Ohio — It took until Tuesday morning to begin play at the Inverness Intercollegiate, but when the Golden Flashes finally did they were ready.  Kent State shot a three-over 287 in the lone round of play to win team medalist honors and capture its first fall tournament title since 2004.  

With rain canceling the 36-holes of play at the eighth edition of the event on Monday, the Golden Flashes knew they had little margin for error when play finally began on Tuesday morning at the par 71 Inverness Club.  

"With the shotgun start placing us on holes 1-4 it was important for us to get off to a good start today," said Director of Golf/Head Coach Herb Page.  "We knew if we could manage our way through a tough stretch of holes from 3-9 we would be able to make a move on the back nine."

And move they did as the four counters for Kent State combined to shoot even par on holes 10-18.

"When you are only playing 18 holes there is a little more sense of urgency because if you make too many mistakes there aren't as many holes out there to get it back," said Page.  

Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ontario) led the way for Kent State shooting a team low 70.  Pendrith's one-under score consisted of three birdies against one bogey and was good enough to tie him for second in the 69-man field.  He was followed by senior Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas, Ontario) and sophomore Kyle Kmiecik (Avon, Ohio) who each shot a one-over 72 to tie for seventh.  Junior Kevin Miller (Dover, Ohio) completed the scoring with a 73 tying him for 13th.  

Kent State's 287 earned the team a four shot victory over Liberty (291) with host Toledo (292) coming in third followed by Kentucky (294) and Michigan State (295) in the top five.  The score also marked the lowest round the Golden Flashes program has at the Inverness Club in the seven previous tournaments held there.  

"Inverness is a major championship golf course so I'm really proud of the consistency our team showed out there today," said Page.  

The previous low round was a 291 shot in the second round of the 2004 tournament which Kent State had its bet finish (T-3rd) before today.  2004 was also the last time the Golden Flashes captured a team title in a fall event when the program won the Notre Dame Invitational/NCAA Regional Preview.  

"Its been a long time coming," said Page, who now has led Kent State to 73 tournament wins in his 34 years.  "We go up against some of the best teams in the country every time we tee it up so its always meaningful when you are able to win against such great competition."

Sophomore Corey Conners (Listowel, Ontario) was the fifth man for the Golden Flashes on Tuesday tying for 17th with a 74.  Competing as an individual in his first collegiate tournament, freshman Nick Scott (Union, Ohio) tied for 32nd with a 76.

Kent State returns to action on Oct. 10-11 at the Jack Nicklaus Invitational hosted by Ohio State at Muirfield Village Country Club in Dublin, Ohio.  

Follow the team on Twitter @KentStGolf.      

        Kent State    R1 - = Total
T2     Taylor Pendrith     70 = 70
T7     Mackenzie Hughes     72 = 72
T7     Kyle Kmiecik     72 = 72
T13   Kevin Miller     73 = 73
T17   Corey Conners     74 = 74
        Individual
T32  Nick Scott    76 = 76

      Rk*        team    R1 -  = Total
1     31     Kent State    287 = 287
2     34     Liberty     291 = 291
3              Toledo    292 = 292
4              Kentucky     294 = 294
5              Michigan State     295 = 295
6              Penn State    300 = 300
T7     43    Michigan     301 = 301
T7     5      Florida     301 = 301
T9             South Alabama     304 = 304
T9             East Tennessee State     304 = 304
11     27    Ohio State     305 = 305

*Rankings by golfstat.com