Story Courtesy of Kent State Sports Information
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. ? Kent State alumni and current PGA Tour members Ben Curtis and Jon Mills donned the blue and gold when the Golden Flashes last advanced to the final round of play at the NCAA Championship in 2000. Until today that is. Freshman John Hahn (Hudson, Ohio / Hudson), and sophomore David Ludlow (Burton, Ohio / Berkshire), each shot one-over 73, leading KSU to a 302 team score and nine strokes ahead of the 15 team cutline.
Kent State (301-297-302=900) sat in seventh place when play was suspended due to stormy weather with 15 teams still on the course. Well ahead of the teams still finishing up the third round, the Golden Flashes are expected to enter the final round just 12 strokes back of UCLA which held a two stroke lead over USC and Clemson in a who’s who’s in college golf top 10.
“On a tough course like this it’s a battle of mental as much as physical,” said Head Coach Herb Page, “We played so well, but 16-17-18 took its toll. Despite the finish, I’m still happy with where we are. I think we have a chance and that’s all you can ask. Tomorrow will be a battle to the end.”
After moving up 56 places following round one, Hahn had moved up 27 places when play was suspended in round two. The GCAA All-Region selection made par on his first seven holes before posting birdie on hole No. 8 for the second straight day. The pattern continued when Hahn used an 18-foot putt for a birdie on 10, and also birdied 13, matching the three holes he birdied in round two.
Sitting at three-under after 14 holes, the First Team All-MAC freshman placed a penalty stroke upon himself when his putter tapped the ball twice on a putt from the edge of the green on hole 15. Hahn took a double-bogey on the hole before bogey’s on 17 and 18 put him at 11-over 227 (83-71-73) for the tournament.
Ludlow produced his lowest round since the third round of the MAC Championship, moving him from 63rd to 36th. The Burton, Ohio, product made 13 pars on the day, including seven of the final eight holes that was only interrupted by a birdie on the par four 14th. Ludlow also made birdie on No. 6 and finished at 10-over 226 (78-75-73) after three rounds.
“I just started making putts today,” said Ludlow, “I’ve been battling the putter all week. We’re still should be in good shape, I think we gave us a chance, so we’ll see what tomorrow brings.”
Senior David Markle (Shelbourne, Ontario / Centre Dufferin), remained KSU’s overall leader after posting a four-over 76 today. Markle, who pared nine of his first 11 holes is in a four way tie for 13th, just two strokes from the top 10 with a six-over 222 (70-76-76). Also a GCAA All-Region pick, he picked up a birdie 13 before making bogey on three of the final four holes.
Freshman Brett Cairns (Courtland, Ontario) pared his first three holes and made two birdies in the round, but finished with a double-bogey on 18 on his way to an eight-over 80. Cairns is now 17-over 233 (78-75-80) for the tournament.
Beginning the day with two birdies, two bogeys and a par on the first five holes senior Tom Ballinger (Mansfield, Ohio / Mansfield) made the turn at three-over. Ballinger made four straight pars on the back nine and sat at just four-over before playing 17 and 18 at five over on the way to a nine-over 81. The Academic All-MAC honoree is at 20-over 236 (75-80-81).
Kevin Chappell of UCLA had a four-under 68 today and leads the field at six-under. Clemson’s Kyle Stanley and Washington’s Nick Taylor are tied for second at two-under.
The the third round of play continues tomorrow. Followed by the fourth and final round. The bottom 15 teams will be cut from the field after the third round.
The Golden Flashes are expected to make the cut at the NCAA Championship for the third time in school history and first since 2000 when they placed a program best ninth.
Kent State Par Rd1 Rd2 Rd3 total
T 13 David Markle +6 70 76 76 220
T 36 David Ludlow +10 78 75 73 226
T 43 John Hahn +11 83 71 73 227
T 96 Brett Cairns +17 78 75 80 233
T 120 Tom Ballinger +20 75 80 81 236
rank team Par Rd1 Rd2 Rd3 total
1 5 UCLA +24 297 293 298 888
T-2 1 USC +27 297 294 300 891
T-2 10 Clemson +27 301 288 302 891
4 8 Stanford +29 309 288 296 893
5 4 Oklahoma State +31 298 296 301 895
6 7 Florida +35 302 291 306 899
7 27 Kent State +36 301 297 302 900
8 3 Georgia +37 303 293 305 901
9 Washington +38 305 290 307 902
T-10 26 Louisville +39 311 296 15-17
T-10 2 Alabama +39 309 297 297 903
12 23 San Diego State +40 310 303 13-17
13 6 Charlotte +43 306 295 306 907
T-14 14 Auburn +45 306 304 15-17
T-14 19 Texas A&M +45 309 294 306 909
16 38 Texas +48 311 309 10-12
T-17 34 UC Irvine +49 320 297 11-14
T-17 Middle Tenn. St +49 309 293 311 913
19 17 UAB +50 311 297 15-17
20 12 Wake Forest +51 314 304 11-14
T-21 22 Arizona State +52 311 293 312 916
T-21 36 Illinois +52 302 302 312 916
23 20 Indiana +54 313 310 9-11
24 16 East Tenn. State +56 313 300 13-17
25 33 Penn State +57 315 298 13-17
26 29 Oregon +63 315 304 10-12
27 31 Mississippi State +64 326 297 10-12
28 Virginia +65 312 307 11-14
29 40 Augusta State +73 326 308 9-11
30 Saint Mary’s +78 333 309 9-11