Rain-soaked Flashes named co-champions at Boilermaker Invitational

Amanda Levine

With the weather against them, the Kent State men’s golf team was still able to finish strong in the two-round Boilermaker Invitational.

Due to weather conditions, Sunday’s final round was cancelled. The Flashes tied for first place alongside No. 37 Northwestern.

The tournament was cancelled around 10 a.m. Sunday morning after the course had flooded and the weather had been terrible, coach Herb Page said.

All teams in the tournament had finished 36 holes during the tournament’s first day Saturday.

Junior Bjarki Petursson, who won last year’s Boilermaker Invitational, led the Flashes in birdies with 10 on the day. He tied for 12th alongside teammate Gisli Sveinbergsson.

“Some people say that a golf course fits the eye,” Page said. “(Petursson) played very well and unfortunately threw in a couple of double bogeys.”

Senior Ian Holt tied for ninth with Purdue’s Timmy Hildebrand and Miami (OH)’s Patrick Flavin and had eight birdies. Holt is ranked No. 19 in the country in the individual golf rankings. Senior Chase Johnson finished in a tie for 40th with five birdies.

“Chase is having a little up-and-down year, but we laughed about it,” Page said. “(The) 18th hole is really hard, and the wind was bad, but he made a great bogey on his final hole at Purdue.”

Freshman Josh Gilkison tied for 45th with eight birdies. Gilkison has played in the past three tournaments.

The Flashes led the tournament in birdies with 35 on the day.

The Flashes will participate in one final tune-up tournament before the Mid-American Conference Championships at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate on April 21-22 at the Ohio State Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio.

Amanda Levine is a sports reporter. Contact her at [email protected].