The men’s golf team finished seventh at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate in Zionsville, Ind. led by freshman Jean-Philippe Paiement.

The Flashes started the tournament poorly, tying Ball State and Toledo for second-worst team score out of the fifteen teams in the first round.

Coach Herb Page said the men’s team needs to play better in the first round if they hope to improve this season.

“We’ve got to be aware we can’t dig ourselves into such a deep hole next tournament,” Page said. “We need to get off to a good start so we can get into contention.”

They rebounded quickly, shooting an excellent second round, 15 strokes lower than their first, to put themselves in eighth place for the first day, 22 shots off of the lead.

The team shot a middling third round to finish seventh overall, ahead of Mid-American Conference rivals Toledo and Ball State, but behind Eastern Michigan.

Penn State won the tournament dominated by Big Ten Conference schools like Michigan and host school Indiana who finished second and third, respectively.

Paiement, starting in his first collegiate tournament, shot the lone under-par round for the Flashes on the first day, with a 1-under-par second round. He finished the first two rounds in a tie for sixth place.

Paiement, who was recruited from Des Ruisseaux, Quebec, said he had no nerves coming into his first official American college event.

“I didn’t really feel nervous about this tournament,” Paiement said. “I just had to remember to try to put the ball in the hole.”

Page said he has been impressed with the play of freshmen John Hahn and Paiement this season. Hahn sat out this tournament due to injury, but Page said he would likely play in the Windon Memorial Classic Oct. 7.

“The freshmen have been playing exceptional this season,” Page said. “Jean had a pretty great tournament on a pretty tough course.”

Paiement also shot well in the first and third rounds with scores of 2-over-par. He finished seventh overall on the individual leader board.

Kent State finished the tournament well with the fourth-best round of the day for its seventh place finish.

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