LEXINGTON, Ky. ? Coming off its first tournament title of the season, the Kentucky women?s golf team looks to carry the momentum of its recent success into Stockbridge, Ga., Monday when the Wildcats begin play in the 13th annual John Kirk/Lady Panther Intercollegiate. The two-day, 36-hole tournament, hosted by Georgia State University, is played at the Eagle?s Landing Country Club and marks the final regular-season tournament for the Wildcats. Play begins with tee times starting at 8 a.m. Monday.
The Wildcats are coming off an exciting finish at the Lady Seahawk Invitational, as UK rallied from 11 strokes down on the event?s final 18 holes to capture the team title. Sophomore Beth Felts (Chattanooga, Tenn.), who became the first-ever Kentucky golfer to be named Southeastern Conference Golfer of the Week on Wednesday, finished tied for second in the individual standings with a three-round total of 220 (71-75-74). It marked Felts? second individual top-10 finish of the season.
?Winning our last tournament was really exciting,? UK head coach Stephanie Barker said. ?We want to carry that momentum over to this tournament and continue getting stronger as we get ready for SECs. It was an important win for us and hopefully will do a lot for our morale.?
Participating teams in the 14-team tournament field include: Arkansas State, Campbell, Coastal Carolina, College of Charleston, East Carolina, East Tennessee State, Georgia State, Jacksonville State, Kentucky, Louisville, Memphis, Mercer, Mississippi and Richmond.
The Wildcats are led by senior Ali Kicklighter (DeLand, Fla.), who is tops on the squad with a per-stroke average of 76.59, which ranks 33rd in the SEC. Kicklighter has posted a team-leading three top-10 individual finishes this season, including a fifth-place finish in the Lady Seahawk Invitational.
Campbell (N.C.) University claimed last season?s John Kirk/Lady Panther Intercollegiate with a two-round total of 598 (301-297). The host Panthers finished second in the 11-team tournament field.
Georgia State has claimed its home event just once in the tournament?s 12-year history with a win in 2001. Memphis has won the tournament in each of its two previous appearances (1995-96). Campbell has captured the team title a tournament-best four times.
The par-72, 5,842-yard Eagle?s Landing Country Club is home to the LPGA?s Chick-Fil-A Charity Classic hosted by Nancy Lopez.
Complete results and a recap of each day?s action will be available on ukathletics.com.
Quick Notes
Kentucky is coming off its first tournament title of the season, as the Wildcats rallied from 11 strokes down on the event?s final 18 holes to capture the team title. The Wildcats posted a three-round total of 906 (305-306-295), including their third-best round of the season with a 295 on the event?s final 18 holes.
Sophomore Beth Felts was named UK?s first-ever Southeastern Conference Golfer of the Week on Wednesday for her accomplishments in leading the Cats to their first team tournament title of the season. Individually, she finished tied for second at the Lady Seahawk Invitational. It was the first time since the award was instituted in the spring of 2000 that a UK golfer earned the distinction.
The Wildcats are led by senior Ali Kicklighter, who is tops on the squad with a per-stroke average of 76.59, which ranks 33rd in the SEC. Kicklighter has posted a team-leading three top-10 individual finishes this season, including a fifth-place finish in the Lady Seahawk Invitational.
Quoting Head Coach Stephanie Barker
On the John Kirk Lady Panther Intercollegiate…
?Winning our last tournament was really exciting. We want to carry that momentum over to this tournament and continue getting stronger as we get ready for SECs. It was an important win for us and hopefully will do a lot for our morale.?
On Beth Felts Being Named UK’s First-Ever Golfer of the Week…
?I am so excited for Beth. She has been working so hard all year and has been really close to playing great golf all year long. It was so nice to see it all come together for her this weekend. She was in contention the whole tournament, and it was a great learning experience that she will carry with her.?
On Winning the Lady Seahawk Invitational…
?It was an important win for us. We beat some teams ranked ahead of us, and put together some really good scores in the tournament. It was neat to see our whole team come together and play well.?
