HUARENCO, Puerto Rico — Junior Andy Winings (Brownsburg, Ind.) claimed his first career tournament victory, to lead the No. 53 Kentucky men?s golf team to a second-place finish at the Palmas Del Mar Intercollegiate, Tuesday at the Palmas Del Mar Country Club.
The Wildcats finished with an 874 (293-289-292) over the two-day event, which was hosted by St. John?s University on the Flamboyan course.
?I could not be more proud of Andy Winings for claiming his first collegiate victory,? coach Brian Craig said. ?He played like the champion he is and he is very deserving of the victory.?
Kentucky got a jumpstart when Winings (72-68-71) fired a spring-season low 68 in the second round, en route to his best collegiate tournament performance finishing first-place overall. He finished five-under par in the three-round tournament.
Senior Brad Doster (Winter Park, Fla.) carded his second top-20 performance of the season after finishing tied for the 16th spot. He concluded play with a 10-over-par 220 final score (72-74-74). Kentucky native Ben Fuqua (Danville, Ky.) made steady progress throughout the tournament in his spring season debut finishing tied for the 17th spot.
Senior Cale Barr (Versailles, Ky.) finished tied for 22nd place with a 224 (74-76-74), while sophomore Derek Oldham (Lexington, Ky.) concluded play also tied for 22nd place with a 224 (75-74-75).
The University of Virginia claimed the tournament title after shooting a tournament-low 286 on the final 18 holes to finish with a 857 (289-282-286). It was Kentucky?s second-best effort of the season after clinching the first spot at the Pat Hicks Invitational in the spring-season opener.
?My hat is off to Virginia,? Craig said. ?They came in and played a great tournament all three rounds.?
Kentucky returns to action later this week when they travel to Statesboro, Ga. to compete in the Schenkel E-Z-GO Invitational on March 14-16. The tournament will include the top-18 teams in the country and is regarded as one of college golf?s premier intercollegiate tournaments in the country. The 54-hole tournament will run March 14-16, at the par-72, 6,962-yard Forest Heights Country Club in Statesboro, Ga.
Individual Results
Andy Winings 72 68 71 211 T1
Ben Fuqua 75 73 73 221 T17
Cale Barr 74 76 74 224 T22
Brad Doster 72 74 74 220 T16
Derek Oldham 75 74 75 224 T22
