Falcons Have Big Day To Finish Runner-Up At Firestone Invitational

Tuesday, October 1

Akron, OH

All Day

Bowling Green State University

Firestone Invitational

Photo by: Ernie Aranyosi

Falcons Have Big Day To Finish Runner-Up At Firestone Invitational

October 01, 2019 | Men's Golf

Bowling Green posted the best result in the John Powers era.

By: by Brad Bohlke, BGSU Athletic Communications

Akron, Ohio -- The Bowling Green State University men's golf team finished play at the Firestone Invitational, hosted by the University of Akron today (Oct. 1), and finished as co-runner ups with Santa Clara. The Falcons shot a total score of 858 (-6) over the three-round tournament.

This is the highest the Falcons have finished since winning the Mountaineer Invitational, hosted by West Virginia University, on October 10^th, 2017 and is the best finish under head coach John Powers.

The Orange and Brown shot an impressive 278, the lowest score of the day for any team, which was good for -10. The Falcons jumped up five spots on the leaderboard on the day. BG had three players in Nick Hofland, Tom North and Rodrigue Vie finish within the top ten individually. This is the first time in the John Powers era that the Falcons had three players finish inside the top ten.

The squad was second in Par 3 scoring average and first in Par 4 scoring average for the tournament.

Nick Hofland shot a round three score of 68 that included six birdies and four of which happened in the first five holes. Hofland led all 81 players in Par 4 scoring average with a score of 3.78, good for -8 total. The Canadian also had 14 birdies on the tournament, which led the Falcons and was one off of the tournament high of 15. Hofland's score of 212 is the lowest of his career as a Falcon and his fourth-place finish is also his career best.

Tom North stayed hot in his second event for BG after finishing T-4^th among 74 total players in the Falcons opening tournament, at Eastern Kentucky two weeks ago. The junior shot a three-day total of 214 and didn't shoot above par on the tournament. North led BG, and tied for the tournament lead, in total pars at 40, including having eight birdies on the tournament.

Rodrigue Vie had his second straight top ten finish of the season for BG after finishing T-4^th with North last week. Vie finished with a round-three score of 69 with six birdies on the day. Vie shot a three-day total of 214 and had ten birdies total.

Ward Kyle, in his first BG event of the season, shot 220 (+4), and in his final round had a par or birdie in 17 of 18 holes. The Firestone Invitational is the second event of Kyle's young career, marking his total score and individual finish being the best of his career. Curtis Hughes played as an individual for BG, posting a final round score of 78. Hughes had six birdies for the tournament

Ian Mackenzie-Olson shot a 77 on the day. which raised his three-day total to 229. Mackenzie-Olson had eight birdies over the three days.

Falcon Leaderboard
T-4^th Nick Hofland -4 (70-74-68- 212)
T-6^th Rodrigue Vie -2 (71-74-69- 214)
T-6^th Tom North -2 (72-72-70- 214)
T-27^th Ward Kyle +4 (76-73-71- 220)
T-59^th Curtis Hughes +12 (78-71-79- 228)
65^th Ian Mackenzie-Olson +13 (74-78-77-229)

Team Leaderboard
1. Santa Clara -7
T2. USC- Aiken -6
T2. Bowling Green -6
4. Akron -4 (860)
5. Drexel +3 (867)
6. Old Dominion +9 (873)
7. Dayton +17 (881)
8. Temple +18 (882)
9. Youngstown State +20 (884)
10. William & Mary +22 (886)
11. Eastern Michigan +23 (887)
12. Winthrop +24 (888)
13. Dartmouth +26 (890)
14. Ohio +40 (904)
15. IUPUI +49 (913)

Up Next
The Falcons will have a quick turn around as they will play in the Tom Tontimonia Invitational, hosted by Cleveland State in Westlake, Ohio over Oct. 7-8.