Oct. 21, 2010
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Coming off a top-three finish at the Philadelphia Big 5 Invitational in early October, its best finish on the young season, the University of Kentucky men’s golf team is looking to continue its positive momentum at the UNCG Bridgestone Golf Collegiate this weekend in Greensboro, N.C.
The 54-hole tournament, which consists of a very competitive field, will be played at Forest Oaks Country Club (par 72, 7,197 yards). The event starts Saturday with two rounds by shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. ET. The final round will be played Sunday with players going off holes No. 1 and No. 10 starting at 8:30 a.m. ET.
“We are ready to get things going this weekend,” Kentucky men’s golf head coach Brian Craig said. “We are coming off our best finish of the year and I think this team is starting to turn the corner. Joseph Barr played great in our last tournament for his best collegiate finish and I’m hoping we all can feed off that and play well this weekend.”
Kentucky will be joined at the tournament by a tough field, including several teams highly ranked in the Golfweek/Sargarin men’s collegiate rankings. The 14-team field consists of No. 8 Auburn, No. 29 Pepperdine, No. 33 Michigan, No. 34 Northwestern, No. 35 Charlotte, No. 56 UNCG, No. 58 Minnesota, Michigan State, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Toledo, VCU and Virginia Tech.
The Wildcats will send a similar rotation to the tournament with the exception of junior Mads Kristensen, who will be playing in his first tournament of the season. Joining Kristensen will be senior Brian Belden and sophomores Joseph Barr, Chase Parker and Seth Blann.
Barr and Belden are coming off their best finishes of the season at the Philadelphia Big 5 Invitational. Barr finished the 36-hole tournament in second place with an even-par 140, good for the best collegiate finish of his career. The native of Versailles, Ky., posted even-par rounds of 70 on both days of competition, improving his season stroke average to 74.75.
Belden also played well in UK’s last event, finishing tied for ninth at 3-over-par 143. A native of Emmaus, Pa., Belden scored a 1-over-par 71 in the first round and 2-over-par 72 in the second. The top-10 finish was the first of the season for Belden and the third of his collegiate career. On the season, Belden has a team-best stroke average of 73.13 and has finished in the top 20 twice.
Parker and Blann have been consistent names in the UK rotation this season as both players have played in all three of Kentucky’s tournaments. Parker is second on the team with a season stroke average of 74.00, while Blann has put together some good rounds, including his best showing of the year at the Gary Koch Intercollegiate.
Kristensen will see his first action of season for UK after a strong sophomore season. The native of Denmark, played in seven events last year, posting a season stroke average of 74.90 with his best finish of the year coming at the Firestone Invitational. In his freshman season, Kristensen competed in all 12 events for UK, scoring two top-20 finishes and a season stroke average of 76.05.
2010 UNCG Bridgestone Golf Collegiate Schedule of Play
Thursday, October 21
12:00 pm — College Amateur / UNCG and TBA
2-5:00 pm — Practice and Registration at Forest Oaks
Friday, October 22
10:00 am — Practice and Registration at Forest Oaks
1:15 pm — Practice Round (shotgun start)
4:00 pm — Junior Clinic
5:00 pm — Volunteers Meeting
6:30 pm — Tournament / Sponsors Dinner at Forest Oaks
Saturday, October 23
6:45 am — Players’ Breakfast at Forest Oaks CC
7:15 am — Range Opens
8:30 am — Rounds 1 and 2 (shotgun start)
Following Play — Players’ Dinner at Forest Oaks CC
Sunday, October 24
6:45 am- – Players’ Breakfast at Forest Oaks
7:15 am — Range Opens
8:30 am — Round 3 (tee times off Nos. 1 and 10)
Following Play — Awards Ceremony
