Hilton Head, SC-The Cleveland State men's golf team posted a strong start in its first spring tournament of the 2025 season on Monday at the Wexford Intercollegiate. The Vikings posted a 13-over par 589 in the first two rounds which is tied for fifth place in the 18-team field.
Cleveland State is tied with High Point for fifth place and is ten shots back of Xavier who leads the tournament at 3-over 579. Cleveland State posted an 8-over 296 in the opening round and improved by three shots in round two finishing at 5-over 293.
Andrew Kaye is tied for the lead in the individual race after finishing at 4-under 140. Kaye is tied with Herman Huus of Appalachian State and JT Herman from Mercer who joined him at 4-under par. Kaye is one of seven players in red figures through two rounds and one of two who finished under par in both rounds. Kaye posted a 3-under 69 in the opening round and followed it up with a 1-under 71 in round two.
In his opening round, Kaye posted four birdies against just one bogey. He started on the seventh hole and made birdie on the par-5 eighth to get into red figures. He then made back-to-back birdies on the 16
th and 17
th hole to move to 3-under. His lone bogey came on the fifth hole, his second-to-last of the opening round, but he followed it with a closing birdie on the sixth to post 69. In round two, Kaye again birdied the eighth hole to get off to a good start. He made back-to-back bogeys on 10 and 11 before closing the back nine with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18. He finished his day with six straight pars to post 71 in the second round and tie for the lead at 4-under.
Mason Frazier also had a strong day in the opening rounds and sits just outside the top ten at 1-over for the tournament. Frazier posted a 1-over 73 in the opening round and followed with an even par 72 in the second round. He is part of a group of players five shots off the pace. Frazier carded four birdies and five bogeys over his first 36 holes of play.
Dillon Pendergast and
Brody Simms are part of a group tied for 49
th place after two rounds. Pendergast posted a 7-over 79 in the first round before rebounding with a 1-over 73 in round two. Simms posted scores of 75-77 to finish at 8-over after 36 holes.
Dominik Cosic is tied for 76
th place after posting rounds of 80-78 to sit at 14-over for the tournament.
Cleveland State took advantage of Wexford Plantation's par-3's as the Vikings tied for first place in the field with a 3.02 scoring average on the par-3 holes. The Vikings also tied for fourth in the field with 116 pars on the first day of play. Kaye specifically excelled on the par-3's, finishing tied for first with a 3-under total. He tied for third in the field on Wexford's par-4's finishing 1-under combined.
The third and final round of the event will take place tomorrow morning with a shotgun start scheduled for 8:15 a.m. The Vikings will be off on holes four through six to begin the final round.
