A tough second round turned out to be the Kent State women’s golf team’s undoing at the ICON Invitational, as the Flashes settled for a third-place finish at The Woodlands Country Club in The Woodlands, Texas.

Kent State started the Invitational with a combined first round score of 292, which was the second lowest score of the round. That all changed, however, in the second round when the Flashes shot a score of 304, the third worst score of the day.

“It definitely set us back,” coach Greg Robertson said. “It was hard to catch up. It was one of those days,” Robertson said. “We didn’t play our best golf. It happens.”

Robertson also said even though the Flashes did have a bad round, he was proud of the team and how they bounced back.

“I’m most proud of the team and how they bounced back the way they did,” Robertson said. “We had a bad day but came back strong.”

Come back strong they did.

Kent State shot a combined 280 in the final round, the best round of the day and four strokes ahead of the next lowest score of a 284 by TCU.

Pimnipa Panthong returned to form with a combined score of 211, Panthong capped off her day by sinking a hole-in-one on the par-3 14th hole.

“It was exciting for her,” Robertson said. “It was her first hole-in-one ever.”

Karoline Stormo bounced back from a very slow first two rounds with a 67 in the final round. She finished with a combined score of 220. She finished in a tie for 14th.

All the teams shot above par with Houston taking home the victory with a score of eight over par.

Robertson said there were multiple factors that played a part for the Flashes’ third place finish. 

“It was a combination of a tough course with other things,” Robertson said. “The weather wasn’t great. It was cold, breezy, and we had some rain. The conditions weren’t perfect, but you have to be in it for 54 holes mentally.”

The Flashes next tournament is Mar. 11-12 for the BYU at Entrada Classic in St. George, Utah.

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