The Kent State women’s golf team has won every MAC Championship since 1999.

After Purgatory Golf Club this past weekend, the Flashes were looking to extend their streak to 21 MAC titles in a row.

After 54 holes, the Flashes achieved just that, shooting a seven-under-par to keep the streak alive. 

Coach Greg Robertson was very pleased that his team was able to keep the streak alive.

“It’s always great to get a win and shooting 24 under last two rounds make it all the more special,” Robertson said. “Everybody contributed and played a big role.

We made a lot of birdies and took advantage of wedges and short iron shots.”

The Flashes were second at the end of the first round then put up best scores for the second and third rounds to win by 18 strokes over second-place Toledo. In total, the Flashes were the only team  to score under par.

Robertson complimented Toledo on the competition.

“Toledo is a good team and they played well,” Robertson said. “They wouldn’t let up at all. They have three seniors who play really well. We needed everybody to show up and play, and we did just that.”

Robertson gave insight on the course conditions and why the conditions played to the team’s strength.

“It was wet from the rain,” Robertson said. “The shots onto the greens were holding. You could be aggressive that way. With it playing long like it did, it played into our hands because we have a team that can drive it long with short shots onto the green.”

All five Kent State players finished inside the top-five. Karoline Stormo won in the individual category with a five-under-par. Stormo also shot the lowest score for the entire tournament with a 65 in the second round with a seven-under on the back-9.

Chloe Salort took third with a one-under-par. Thitapa Pakdeesettakul finished fourth with a one-over-par, while Michaela Finn and Pimnipa Panthong both tied for fifth with a three-over-par.

Robertson shared the secret to why the Flashes play so well in the MAC Tournament.

“Karoline winning did propel us, but we needed everybody in it,” Robertson said. “When you play 54 holes, you have to stay focused and you can’t look too far ahead or behind. The more golf you play, the better you do in this environment. You don’t panic and you get to play your game of golf.”

Robertson joked about if the players make the coach look good or the other way around.

“Great players make the coaches look good,” Robertson said. “When you have a group that works that hard, sometimes, the best thing to do is to stay out of the way and let them play.”

Robertson said even with a big lead, you can never get too confident in today’s game of golf.

“We got to play every hole the best we can,” Robertson said. “In today’s game, you just never know what will happen. There’s no safe place until it’s actually over then you can put your feet up and appreciate what they did.”

With two weeks before the NCAA Regionals, Robertson said the women still have work to do and will continue to practice hard and carry momentum and confidence further into the postseason.

The NCAA Regionals start on May 6. The Flashes will play at one of the four regional sites.

Zachary McKnight is a sports reporter. Contact him at [email protected].