Wildcats Move Up the Leaderboard on Day Two

AWENDAW, South Carolina – Gusty winds created a problem for most teams during the sunny second round of the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate in Awendaw, South Carolina, but the fourth-lowest score of the day (-1) powered the Kentucky men’s golf team to climb three notches on the leaderboard. UK is tied for fifth place at 2-under-par heading into the final round on Tuesday.

 

 

“I love our consistency and the pressure we are putting on the golf course. This team is awfully close to having a big round. Maybe tomorrow will be the day. Either way, that day is in our future and it is going to be fun.”

 

 

Junior All-American Tyler “Chip” McDaniel constructed a bogey-free front nine with two birdies for an astounding 2-under-par 35. He went on to birdie the 11th hole before a couple of setbacks evened his round. He ended up with a solid even-par performance for the day that placed him in 17th place (-1) heading into the final day of competition.

 

Cooper Musselman led the way for UK on day two with a 1-under-par round. The junior carded a triple bogey on the seventh hole, but to no surprise, that fueled him to try and play even better. Musselman torched the back nine with a string of three consecutive birdies on holes 11-13 and another at the 18th, which ultimately gave him a 3-under-par 32 for the side. He currently sits in a tie for 35th at 1-over par for the tournament.

 

Also stepping up for the Cats was freshman Lukas Euler who put together a back nine without any blemishes. The sophomore birdied the 17th for a 1-under-par performance on the side and an even-par second round, placing him in a tie for 48th at 3-over par.

 

Sophomore Fred Allen Meyer also moved up the leaderboard without deviating too far from his 1-under-par performance that he posted in the first round. The Nicholasville, Kentucky, native was the third Wildcat to finish at even par on Monday. Meyer, along with McDaniel, is tied for 17th through two rounds of action.

 

Freshman Matt Liston, playing as an individual in his third tournament as a Wildcat, posted a 1-over-par 73, which is the second-best performance of his young career. Junior Stephen Stallings also shot a 73, and is in good position for a top-20 performance. He current sits in a tie for 22nd on the individual leaderboard and is at even-par for the tournament.

 

 

UK’s best finish came in 2005 when it won the tournament with an 866 total score. The Wildcats finished in 11th place last season. 

 

A pair of teams from the Southeastern Conference lead the tournament at 11-under par – No. 25 Ole Miss and No. 31 South Carolina. N.C. State sits in third place at 8-under par while yesterday’s leader, Georgia State, shot 5-over-par, which knocked them down to fourth. UK is tied with No. 24 Missouri for fifth heading into the final 18 holes of play.

 

 

Bulls Bay Golf Club, built in 2002, is a private course (par 72) with bent grass greens and Bermuda fairways that plays at a long 7,220 yards. 

 

Fans can follow along with live results via BirdieFire.

 

T17 Fred Allen Meyer – 71, 72 (-1)

T17 Chip McDaniel – 71, 72 (-1)

T22 Stephen Stallings – 71, 73 (E)

T35 Cooper Musselman – 74, 71 (+1)

T48 Lukas Euler – 75, 72 (+3)

T57 Matt Liston* – 76, 73 (+5)

* competing as individual