GAINESVILLE, Fla. —The University of Kentucky men?s golf program is set to open its spring season at the 2004 SunTrust Gator Invitational, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 31 ? Feb. 1. Kentucky posted four top-10 finishes in the fall season, including a first place finish at the Cleveland Golf Kiawah Island Intercollegiate.

?This is a great tournament for us to not only compete, but work on our game,? UK Coach Brian Craig said. ?It?s a good field with good competition on a challenging golf course so it will help us identify where we need to get better.?

The Wildcats are led by junior All-American John Holmes who will play in the No. 1 spot. Holmes tied for sixth at last year?s Gator Invitational and led UK to an 11th place finish. He led the team in the fall season with a team-low 71.30 stroke average and recorded three top-10 individual finishes in four competitions.

Junior Mark Blakefield and sophomore Matt Kohn are Kentucky?s No. 2 and No. 3 competitors, respectively. Blakefield finished tied for third at the Kiawah Island Intercollegiate and Kohn boasts a 73.50 stroke average through four tournaments.

Juniors Brandon Waldrop and Matt Wells round out UK?s lineup playing at the No. 4 and No. 5 positions, respectively. Redshirt freshman Mark Erlewine will make his collegiate debut playing as an individual in the tournament.

?I have a good feeling that the guys are in pretty good form, so I would not be surprised to see us put up a good performance. We might also be a bit rusty so it will be fun to see where we are. It?s a great time to start tuning up for what will hopefully be a good spring,? Craig said.

The field of 15 teams features some of the top teams in the country, including No. 1 Florida and SEC foes, Alabama, LSU and Tennessee.

The two-day tournament will feature three rounds with 36 holes played on Saturday and the final 18 on Sunday.