The Kent State women’s golf team fell to Georgia State in the semifinals of the consolation bracket at the Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship, which ended yesterday.

The Flashes fell just one shot short of making the championship bracket during qualifying play for the second consecutive year at the event. Kent State finished 27-over-par after 36 holes on Sunday, one shot higher than Tennessee-Chattanooga, which earned the last seed in the championship bracket.

Kent State coach Mike Morrow said the team played well, despite falling just short of the championship bracket again.

“We did a lot of things right,” Morrow said. “Coming in ninth (in qualifying play) wasn’t what we wanted. We weren’t quite good enough, but we did a lot of good things.”

Kent State defeated Central Florida in the first round of the consolation bracket 3-2, with individual wins by junior Sarah Bradley, junior Martina Gavier and sophomore Mercedes Germino.

The Flashes fell 2-1-2 to Georgia State in the next round, with only Gavier winning for the Flashes. Bradley and sophomore Shamira Marshall tied their opponents from Georgia State, while Germino and sophomore Mandi Morrow were defeated.

Louisiana State won the championship bracket of the tournament, while Texas Christian defeated Georgia State in the finals of the consolation bracket.

Bradley, playing in her first collegiate tournament since an automobile accident ended her career at Oklahoma State, led the Flashes in qualifying play. Bradley’s score of 1-over-par after two rounds was the best score on the team by six shots.

Bradley, a New Zealand native, said she felt comfortable playing with her new team, even after the long break.

“I love it,” Bradley said. “(My teammates) are amazing. I also have a lot of respect for coach Morrow. He makes you trust the shot you’re going to play.”

Bradley said the event was a good tune-up for the Flashes, who will not play another tournament this month.

“I think we’ve got a good idea of what we need to work on,” Bradley said.

Germino and Gavier were the only other two Flashes to finish qualifying play with scores under 10-over-par. Gavier shot a 7-over-par in two rounds, while Germino shot 8-over-par.

Morrow said the team would have been more disappointed with their finish if it hadn’t been playing against such talented programs.

We’re a young team and this was a star-studded tournament to open the season with,” Morrow said. “Luckily, the stuff we did wrong is very correctable.”

The women’s golf team competes next in the Lady Tar Heel Invitational starting Oct. 9 in Chapel Hill N.C.

Contact sports editor Tom Gallick at [email protected].