The current US amateur runner-up has found his new home.
Noah Kent, the Iowa State sophomore who lost to Arizona’s Josele Ballester at Hazeltine Stadium last August, announced Saturday that he plans to transfer to Florida. Kent entered the transfer portal earlier this month and will have two years of eligibility remaining when he officially joins the Gators next fall.
NCAA rules prohibit Kent, who finished in the top 13 four times in as many starts for the No. 76 Hawkeyes this fall, from competing for his new team this spring. He will still be eligible to play at Iowa in the spring.
Kent is currently ranked 69th in the national collegiate golf rankings and 197th in the world amateur golf rankings. He also recently participated in a training session for the 16-player US Walker Cup tournament.
The Iowa sophomore has enjoyed unparalleled support, both this week at Hazeltine Stadium and in the years leading up to Saturday’s semifinal victory.
Kent’s arrival is a boost for Florida, which won the NCAA team title two years ago and is now ranked 14th in the nation after the fall. However, it also creates a crowded lineup, especially considering the upcoming roster cuts that are scheduled to begin next fall. The SEC said it would limit its programs’ rosters to eight players, meaning the Gators, who had seven returning players and three transfers before Kent’s commitment, will have to make some tough decisions.
