ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. ? Kentucky golfer John Holmes shot a 10-under par 278 at the 78th Annual New Year?s Invitational this past weekend in St. Petersburg, Fla., to finish second out of 60 golfers. Holmes? Kentucky teammates, Brandon Waldrop (291) and Andrew Stephens (292), finished 12th and 17th, respectively, as the University of Kentucky men?s golf program was well represented in the prestigious tournament.

Holmes, a Campbellsville, Ky., product entered the fourth and final round down two strokes, but fired a four-under front nine to put serious pressure on former Vanderbilt Brandt Snedeker, the eventual winner. Snedeker went on to fire a 6-under 66 in the final round to secure the narrow one stroke victory over Holmes with an 11-under par 277 four round total. Holmes won the tournament in 2003 by shooting a 279 and defeated Snedeker by four strokes.

Waldrop, who is also a junior at UK, shot a 69 to sit tied for third place after one round, but was unable to hold his position as he carded a second round 75, a 74 in the third round and 73 in the fourth round to finish tied for 12th. Stephens was consistent throughout the competition as he fired a pair of 73s in the first two rounds followed by a 72 in the third round and a 74 in the fourth to finish tied for 17th overall.

The No. 27 Wildcats open their spring schedule Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 31 ? Feb. 1, at the Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla.