March 31, 2012

No. 21 Kent State Grabs 12-shot Lead After Day One of Irish Creek Collegiate

Golden Flashes second round 273 tied for the fourth lowest in school history

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — A near record breaking second round and six players in the top 16 helped lead the No. 21 ranked Kent State men's golf team to a 12-shot lead after the first day of play at the Irish Creek Collegiate in North Carolina on Saturday. The Golden Flashes' 280 (-4) and 273 (-11) led to a 36-hole total of 553 (-15) with the final 18 holes left at the par 71, 7,099-yard Club at Irish Creek to go on Sunday morning.

"We just played awesome in the afternoon, which has allowed us to build up a nice lead," said Director of Golf/Head Coach Herb Page. "There are still 18 holes left to play tomorrow, but the ball is in our court. We need to come out and play focused and not get to comfortable with where we are at."

In the second round all five players in the line-up shot even-par or better as the Golden Flashes team score was only two shots of the school record of 271, which was last reached in the third round of the 2009 Mid-American Conference Championship. Senior Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas, Ontario) took the lead for Kent State in round two with a team best 65 (-7) which also matched the fourth lowest individual round in school history. After making one birdie against one bogey in round one, he made birdie on five of his first eight holes in round two then added two more with only one bogey on the back nine. Hughes 36-hole total of 136 (71-36) leaves him two back of Sebastian MacLean of Xavier who currently holds individual honors with a 134 (-8).

Kent State had a three shot lead on the 13-team field following the opening round which was paced by a pair of 69s from sophomore Kyle Kmiecik (Avon, Ohio) and sophomore Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ontario).

Not far behind Hughes is Kmiecik who is tied for fourth at 137 (69-68) after posting the first back-to-back sub-70 rounds of his Kent State career. Junior Kevin Miller (Dover, Ohio) is competing as an individual this week and is tied for fourth as well after rounds of 68 and 69 on Saturday. Pendrith followed his 69 with a 71 and is tied for 11th at 140. Sophomore Corey Conners (Listowel, Ontario) is tied for 16th with a 142 posting rounds of 73 and 69. In his first start since the opening week of the season back in September, freshman Taylor Zoller (Charleston, S.C.) had two counters with a pair of 71s that leave him tied for 16th as well at 142.

"Playing 36 holes in one day can be a marathon both physically and mentally, so it was nice to see us put back-to-back rounds together," said Page.

Paired with second place Mercer (565) and No. 17 Duke (567), Kent State will begin the final round at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Follow the team on Twitter @KentStGolf.

1	Kent State	280	273	553
T2	Mackenzie Hughes (1)	71	65	136
T4	Kyle Kmiecik (4)	69	68	137
T11	Taylor Pendrith (2)	69	71	140
T16	Corey Conners (3)	73	69	142
T16	Taylor Zoller (5)	71	71	142