PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — The Kentucky men?s golf team battled 20 mph winds and temperatures in the low 50s to fire a team 317 in the first round of the 2004 Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship, Sunday afternoon. The Wildcats finished the day tied with Auburn for 11th place overall. South Carolina shot a day one 288 for the early lead, followed by top-ranked Florida who fired a plus-11 299 team total.

John Holmes was UK?s top performer on the day with a two-over-par 74 which left him tied for 12th individually with three other players. Jason Hartwick (Texas), Eirik Johansen (South Carolina) and Jake Thompson (South Carolina) each shot a first round one-under-par 71 to claim the early lead. Holmes and teammate Mark Blakefield, who shot a 75 and is currently tied for 16th, both have a shot to make a run at the title in the final two rounds. Holmes entered the tournament with a team best 71.15 stroke average and Blakefield is second at 72.31.

Sophomore Matt Kohn and junior Brandon Waldrop both shot an 84 in the first round and junior Matt Wells rounded out the lineup with an 87.

 Kentucky Scores T11 John Holmes ? 74 T16 Mark Blakefield ? 75 T72 Matt Kohn ? 84 T72 Brandon Waldrop ? 84 T82 Matt Wells ? 87