Mackenzie Hughes

Golden Flashes four shots back of LSU heading into Tuesday's final round

LAFAYETTE, La. — Kent State got off to a strong start at the 27th Annual Louisiana Classics on Monday posting rounds of 285 & 281.  The combined 10-under score of 566 has the 21st ranked Golden Flashes in second place and four shots back of No. 25 LSU heading into the final round of play at the par 72, 6898-yard, Oakbourne Country Club on Tuesday

After starting the day with the three-under, 285, Kent State made up two places on the 15-team field as four players shoot under par in round two.  Senior Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas, Ontario) helped anchor the team's performance on Monday posting rounds of 69 and 72 for a five-under, 139 that had him tied for third overall and three shots back of the leader.  

Starting the day on hole No. 4, Hughes made birdie on four of his first 11 holes before finishing his -3 round with another birdie on the par 5, 552-yard third.  Canada's top amateur for 2011, he did one better on No. 3 in round two making eagle to complete his first two rounds under par for the second consecutive tournament.  

Along with Hughes, freshman Nick Scott (Union, Ohio) and junior Kevin Miller (Dover, Ohio) also posted rounds of 70 in the afternoon while sophomore Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ontario) completed the team scoring with a 71.  
 
Sophomore Corey Conners (Listowel, Ontario) had a round of 70 as well on Monday, but his came in the morning and helped keep the Golden Flashes in contention while Scott and Pendrith added 73s to the opening round 285 team score.  

For the tournament, Conners and Scott head into the final round tied for 19th.  Conners (70-73) made nine birdies in 36 holes including holes 10 & 11 in each round.  After starting his day with a bogey on No 6 in round one he strung together a string of four birdies in seven holes at one point to highlight his opening round 70.  Scott (73-70) meanwhile was consistent throughout totaling six birdies against five bogeys and 25 pars.  

Pendrith (73-71) is just one shot back in the individual standings with a 144 total tying him for 26th.  He birdied his first hole of the day, but still found himself three-over after eight holes before getting back to one-over before the end of the round.  In the afternoon, Pendrith caught fire with three straight birdies on Nos. 10-11-12, but bogeys on two of his last three holes left him with a one-under 71.  Miller (83-70) meanwhile made a nice recovering with the 70 in round two that included birdies on two of his final four holes and five total after he started the tournament with an 83.  

Final round tee times for Kent State on Tuesday start at 8:00 am off Nos. 1-2-3.  The Golden Flashes will be paired with No. 25 LSU and Memphis, which sits a stroke back of Kent State in third.  At seven-under, SMU rounds out the top 4.   

Follow the team on Twitter @KentStGolf.

* rankings by golfstat.com