Heading into the last tournament of the fall season, the Kent State women’s golf team wanted to remain consistent.

The Flashes did just that by finishing 5-over-par and taking second place at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown Wednesday. For the fall, Kent State finished in the top three in all four of its tournaments.

“Our consistency is a tribute to the players that they show up to each tournament and compete hard,” Kent State coach Mike Morrow said. “We would have liked to of won a tournament, but (finishing second) is the next best thing.”

No. 19 Arkansas finished 23 strokes ahead of Kent State. The Razorbacks finished 18-under-par in the 17-team field. No. 11 Arizona finished third overall with a score of 8-over-par.

“(Arkansas) ran away from everyone in the first round,” Morrow said.

Leading the way for No. 26 Kent State was senior Martina Gavier. She finished tied for second overall, finishing 6-under-par in the three-round tournament.

Gavier finished in the top four in all of Kent State’s fall tournaments, including two second place finishes.

Gavier said she was pleased with her performance.

Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown Team Results (17 teams) 1. Arkansas: -18 2. Kent State: +5 3. Arizona: +8 T4: Louisville: +12 T4: Washington: +12 Kent State Individual Results 1. Martina Gavier (T2): -6 2. Mandi Morrow (14): +2 3. Mercedes Germino (T27): +6 4. Shamira Marshall (T35): +8 5. Erin Hawe (T39): +9 Independent: Sarah Bradley (T35): +8

“I think I did pretty well,” Gavier said. “My putting was pretty good and I was good off the tee and gave myself some good opportunities.”

Arkansas freshman Emily Tubert was the medalist in the tournament, finishing 11-under-par. Three of the top four finishers belonged to the Razorbacks.

Junior Mandi Morrow finished second for the Flashes with a final score of 2-over-par, which was good enough for 14th place overall.

The Flashes came prepared in the first round. Gavier finished 2-under-par in the round, which left her tied for fifth place overall. She recorded four birdies in five holes on the back nine.

Junior Shamira Marshall and Morrow both shot a first round score of 3-over-par.

Tubert jumped out to an early lead in the tournament, finishing the day 9-under-par. She sank seven birdies and eagled the par-5 13th hole.

“(Arkansas) had a first place individual and two who tied Martina for second place,” Morrow said. “Luckily we stopped their shutout on everyone.”

Kent State heated up in the second round with four players finishing below par to move into third place overall.

The Flashes finished the second round 11-under-par, which is the second lowest score in program history.

Gavier moved up to fourth place after finishing the second round 6-under-par. She sank six birdies, including two in a row on the 13 and 14th holes.

Kent State freshman Erin Hawe carded a second round score of 3-under-par, which was a 12-stroke improvement of her 9-over-par first round score. She recorded five birdies and a double bogey on the par-4 18th hole.

Gavier got off to a slow start in the third round, recording bogeys on her first three holes. She later recovered by only shooting one more bogey and four birdies to finish even-par in the last round.

Morrow said he was proud of the way his team was able to finish strong in the fall season.

“It’s great to go into the offseason on a positive note,” he said. “It’s something I think we can build momentum on.”

The Flashes are off until 2011 when the team travels to Rio Grande, Puerto Rico to participate in the Lady Puerto Rico Classic Feb. 12-15.

Contact Brad Tansey at [email protected].