April 9, 2010
LEXINGTON, Ky. — For the third consecutive year, the University of Kentucky men’s golf team will host the UK Bluegrass Invitational, starting at 8:15 a.m. ET Saturday at the University Club of Kentucky. The 54-hole event will consist of 36 holes of continuous play Saturday and the final 18 holes Sunday.
The tournament will be played at the gorgeous University Club of Kentucky’s Big Blue Course. The course will play at par-71 for the tournament. The University Club, which has the Big Blue Course and the Wildcat Course, was renovated by internationally renowned golf course architect Arthur Hills. Both courses are complimented by a dozen lakes and ponds, providing players with a beautiful and challenging round of golf.
Kentucky claimed the 2009 UK Bluegrass Invitational team title in a field of 17 teams. UK won the title by 10 strokes over 2009 runner-up Western Carolina. The individual title was won by Erik Barnes of Austin Peay State University at 1-under-par.
This year, 24 teams will participate in the third-year tournament, including the host Wildcats. The field includes Akron, Auburn, Bowling Green State, Canisius, Cincinnati, Dayton, Eastern Kentucky, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Lipscomb, Loyola, Marshall, Memphis, Miami (Ohio), Morehead State, Murray State, North Carolina-Greensboro, Ohio, South Alabama, Toledo, Western Carolina, Western Kentucky and Youngstown State.
Kentucky will send a total of 10 players to the links this weekend, including its starting five rotation of seniors Ben Fuqua and Jordan Blann, junior Brian Belden, sophomore Mads Kristensen, and freshman Chase Parker. Senior Derek Oldham, junior James Kania, sophomore Chase Carpenter, and freshmen Seth Blann and Joseph Barr will play as individuals in the tournament.
UK is fresh off an 11th-place finish at the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate in the last week of March. The Wildcats were led at the tournament by Blann, who finished the tournament in a tie for 10th at 2-under-par.
Complete coverage of the 2010 UK Bluegrass Invitational will be available on ukathletics.com.
2010 UK Bluegrass Invitational Quick Facts
Tournament: UK Bluegrass Invitational
Defending champion: Kentucky (880, 16-over par)
2009 runner-up: Western Carolina (890, 26-over-par)
2009 medalist: Erik Barnes, Austin Peay State University (215, 1-under par)
Participants (24): Akron, Auburn, Bowling Green State, Canisius, Cincinnati, Dayton, Eastern Kentucky, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kentucky (host), Lipscomb, Loyola, Marshall, Memphis, Miami (Ohio), Morehead State, Murray State, North Carolina-Greensboro, Ohio, South Alabama, Toledo, Western Carolina, Western Kentucky, Youngstown State
Course: University Club of Kentucky Big Blue Course, Lexington, Ky., (par 71, 6,997 yards)
Dates: Saturday and Sunday, April 10-11 (36 holes Saturday, 18 holes Sunday; 8:15 a.m. shotgun start Saturday, tee times starting at 8 a.m. Sunday based on seeding; All times are Eastern)
