In their final match before the MAC Championships next week, the Kent State men’s golf team finished third at the Boilermaker Invitational.

“At the start of the day only three shots separated the top four teams and it remained tight throughout the round,” said Head Coach Herb Page. “Our guys really gutted it out, but in the end sometimes you just get beat. You have to give Indiana credit. They shot an impressive final round and deserved to win.”

Kent State had five players in the top 26 for the tournament and kept close to the leaders in an attempt to win their third straight team title, falling short of eventual winner Indiana by three strokes and Iowa by one.

Sophomore Taylor Pendrith led the team with a 54-hole score of 217, tied for fifth for the tournament. Pendrith has five top 10s this year.

Sophomore Corey Conners tied for 11th with a 219, adding another quality performance for the year.

Senior Mackenzie Hughes tied for 21st with a 224 over his 54-holes over the weekend. Sophomore Kyle Kmiecik finished tied for 23rd with a three-round score of 225.

The men’s golf team will be back in action at the 2012 MAC Championship at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill., hosted by Northern Illinois University. Kent State has won the MAC Championship three years in a row, and is looking to win for a fourth.

Contact at Daniel Staimpel[email protected]