March 10, 2009
MURRELS INLET, S.C. – Against an elite 14-team field, senior co-captain Andy Winings torched the final nine holes Monday in the final round of the General Jim Hackler Championship helping lead Kentucky to a seventh-place finish. Freshman Mads Kristensen secured his first career top-10 finish firing a six-over par.
Facing 11 teams ranked in the top-50 in the nation, including the defending 2008 national champion UCLA Bruins, Kentucky (296-305-301-902) shot 38-over-par to finish in seventh place.
“The team showed a great deal of courage this week on a very demanding course,” coach Craig said. “It was a huge step in the right direction for us.”
Freshman Mads Kristensen paced the Wildcats in his first top-10 finish of his career. Tying his career-low 71 in the first round, the Kentucky rookie took advantage of his solid short game en route to recording seven birdies and a final score, six-over par.
“I am very proud of Mads in his first top-10 performance,” Craig said. “He showed much poise in this tournament while showing us that he is capable of doing some big things in his Wildcat career.”
Senior Andy Winings finished tied for 19th after a tremendous final nine holes. The Brownsburg, Ind., native shot a four-under par on the back nine Monday for a final score 225, nine-over par.
“Andy Winings was very impressive today playing his final nine holes at four-under par to help the team in a big way,” Craig said.
Tying for the 32nd spot, senior co-captain Ben Fuqua shot a 78-72-78- 225 to finish third in scoring on the Kentucky squad.
Rounding out the scoring for Kentucky was sophomore James Kania and junior Jordan Blann. Kania tied the 48th spot while Blann finished tied for 59th.
The Wildcats get a little break before returning to action March 20-22 when they travel to Statesboro, Ga., for their fourth appearance in the Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational.
T10 Mads Kristensen 71 78 73 222 T19 Andy Winings 75 78 72 225 T32 Ben Fuqua 78 72 78 228 T48 James Kania 74 77 81 232 T59 Jordan Blann 76 81 78 235
