By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

For more than two-and-a-half decades, the Kent State women’s golf team has been able to call themselves champions of the Mid-American Conference.

Imagine that.

For 26 straight seasons, the Golden Flashes have distanced themselves from the teams in the MAC and continued to compete in the NCAA Regional Tournament.

This season, that 26th championship, saw the women golfers win easily and land at the top of the 10 teams in the MAC at the Ball State hosted event at Delaware Country Club in Indiana.

Kent State was only 9-over par through three 18-hole rounds, giving itself a 28-stroke cushion over nearest competitor, Bowling Green.

Three freshmen led the Golden Flashes with identical scores of 219, 3-over-par after three rounds.

One of the freshmen is Isabella Goyette of Cloverleaf in Medina.

Many Portage County girls will remember competing against her when teams were part of the Portage Trail Conference.

Guyette was joined by Aryn Matthews of Canada and Gracie Larsen of Australia at 3-over-par and a tie for second place.

All of the golfers from Kent State finished in the top eight of the 50 golfers competing at the MAC Championship, with Veronika Kedronova in a tie for sixth place at 4-over-par and Leon Takagi in a tie for eighth place at 6-over-par.

The Flashes, along with their head coach Casey VanDamme and assistant coach Manuela Carbaio Re, will be watching the Golf Channel at 1 p.m. on Wednesday when the live selection show will announce the destination course at the next level.

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE WOMEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

(At Delaware Country Club, Muncie, IN)

TEAM STANDINGS: Kent State 873, Bowling Green 901, Eastern Michigan 906, Northern Illinois 912, Ball State 914, Ohio University 920, Central Michigan 925, Akron 925, Toledo 928, Western Michigan 938.

MEDALIST: Jasmine Driscoll, Ball State 218.

KENT STATE (873): Isabella Goyette 219, Aryn Matthews 219, Gracie Larsen 219, Veronika Kedronova 220, Leon Takagi 222.