Sophomore golfer Cade Breitenstine won the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate tournament Sunday as the Kent State men’s golf team tied for fourth.

Breitenstine scored a 3-under-par 210 in his first collegiate win.

“[Cade] played awesome all week,” coach Jon Mills said. “There were tough conditions at times, but he just wanted it. He has been so close many times. It was his time.” 

The team finished with at 18-over 870, 11 strokes behind first-place Illinois and six behind second-place Penn State.

“At times, we were sloppy as a team,” Mills said. “This golf course was a tough course. But when you compound that by making little mistakes, like making a bogey or a double from around the green, it really takes a toll on the team score.

“If we cut those mistakes out, we had a legitimate chance to win the tournament. If you look at the difference between those things we did compared to Illinois, who won, it made a big impact.”

Junior Jared Wilson tied for 18th with a score of 5-over 218, senior Josh Gilkison tied for 22nd  at 219, junior Julien Paltrinieri tied for 48th  at224 and sophomore Chris Vandette finished in 68th with a 15-above 228.

“I felt like finishing fourth and having some of our guys not play their best golf is a positive,” Mills said. “It’s encouraging to know that when they’re not playing their best, we can still compete and beat a lot of good teams.”

The team will compete next for the MAC championship on Friday and Saturday.

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