March 28, 2002

Lexington, Ky. – The University of Kentucky men’s golf team will play host to a competitive group of 17 regional rivals on Mar. 29-30 in the 17th annual Johnny Owens Invitational at the new University Club of Kentucky. The Johnny Owens will be the first collegiate tournament held at the University Club since its groundbreaking ceremony in April of 2001.

Freshman John Holmes will look to lead the Wildcats to their first Johnny Owens title since 1989 with his team-best 71.5 stroke average. Holmes, a native of Campbellsville, Ky., is coming off a second-place finish at Alabama’s Conrad Rehling Invitational in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Battling Kentucky for the title will be Ball State, Eastern Kentucky, Marshall, Miami of Ohio, Morehead State, Murray State, Ohio, Purdue, Akron, Louisville, Michigan, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Western Kentucky, Wright State, Youngstown State and Xavier. Miami of Ohio will look to repeat last year’s championship performance, which saw Redhawk Adam Speirs take medalist honors by shattering the previous Johnny Owens record with his 9-under par campaign.

The 54-hole tournament will begin Friday, Mar. 29 with the opening round of competition beginning at 8 a.m. and the second round slated to go off at 1 p.m. Both of Friday’s rounds will begin from a shotgun start. The tournament will conclude on Saturday, Mar. 30 with the final round set for 8 a.m.