July 23, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Incoming Kentucky men’s golf freshman Cody Martin, sophomore Joseph Barr and senior Derek Oldham each posted qualifying marks in the qualifier for the 2009 Powerbilt Kentucky Open at the Lakeside Golf Course Wednesday.
Martin, who is fresh off finishing second in the Kentucky Junior Amateur Championship, shot an impressive 5-under-par 67 for the qualifier, tied for the lowest round of the qualifier. Martin was tied with Rex Chaney, who also shot a 67.
Barr and Oldham also qualified for the Kentucky Open by shooting a 1-over-par 73 on the 18-hole qualifier. Barr, a native of Versailles, Ky., and Oldham, a native of Lexington, finished six strokes behind Martin and two strokes ahead of seven players tied at 75, the cut for the qualifier.
The seven players who shot 75 played a playoff Wednesday night and Thursday morning to see who would qualify for the Open.
The 2009 Powerbilt Kentucky Open will be held at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, Ky., Aug. 11-13. The qualifying, which concluded Thursday, consisted of over 400 golfers hoping to get to Olde Stone for the championship rounds of the Open.
Former Kentucky golfer Mark Blakefield, also qualified for the tournament at Lakeside. Blakefield, who finished second earlier this month at the Irvin Cobb Championship in Paducah, Ky., shot a 1-under-par 71 for the qualifier.
Michael and James Kania Continue Solid Summer Play at Open Championship
After posting a final round of even par, incoming UK freshman Michael Kania finished the 105th Philadelphia Open Championship with a 1-over-par 143 to finish in a tie for 22nd place at Bent Creek Country Club Wednesday.
UK golf junior James Kania, Michael’s older brother, also finished in the top-35 in the Open Championship posting a 4-over-par 146 for the 36-hole tournament, finishing in a tie for 33rd. Both James and Michael finished in the top-15 in amateur scores. Michael’s performance was tied for the ninth lowest amateur score in the tournament, while James’ score was tied for the 15th lowest amateur score of the tournament.
The Philadelphia Open Championship is a 36-hole, one day event with a combination of 36 professionals and 36 amateurs battling for the tournament title. Michael came out of the gate strong on the first 18-holes of the tournament, posting a birdie on the par-4 third hole. Michael ended the tournament with five birdies, including three birdies on the final 18 holes.
James posted five birdies for the tournament as well, four of which came in the first round of the tournament. James was even par after the first 18 holes and was 1-under-par for the tournament after 27 holes. The elder Kania couldn’t keep up the momentum heading into the final nine holes, posting a triple bogey on 14th along with bogeys on the 15th and 17th.
James played in 10 events for the Wildcats last season, posting a 74.65 season stroke average. The native Haverford, Penn., James’ lowest round of the year was a 69 in the Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational where James finished tied for 14th. James best finish of the year came at the Jacksonville University Invitational, where he finished in a tie for sixth. Earlier this summer, James made it to the Philadelphia Amateur Championship round where he lost in the 36-hole match play final to Conrad Von Borsig, who posted the low amateur score of the Open Championship.
Michael has had a great summer as well, finishing as the top qualifier at the Penn Oaks Golf Club qualifier for the Open Championship. Michael is expected to make an impact as a freshman this season for Kentucky.
