Victory, Kentucky! Wildcats Reign Supreme for Fourth Time
Final Results
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Now that’s how you cap an already historic regular season.
Winners of its first three tournaments of the season, the Kentucky men’s golf team concluded the regular season in stylish fashion with a come-from-behind win at the Gary Koch Invitational on Tuesday edging No. 11 Auburn by four strokes.
The Wildcats trailed the Tigers by six shots heading into the final day and responded by shooting a combined 14-under-par, 274, to earn the trophy. Kentucky turned in its second-lowest round of the season and the third lowest under head coach Brian Craig to cap the regular-season and take momentum into postseason play beginning at the Southeastern Conference Championship later this month.
Senior Chip McDaniel led every UK starter in the top 25 on the individual leaderboard with a runner-up finish, while freshman Max Mehles and junior Fred Allen Meyer scored the best finishes of their careers to help propel the Cats to victory. Mehles tied for third and Meyer carded a tie for sixth.
“I am so proud of these young men,” Craig said. “What a fabulous final round we played today to come from behind and beat a terrific Auburn team. And, how about Chip McDaniel? He led the way with three phenomenal rounds of golf. That was simply a joy to watch. They all played well and contributed, but Chip was spectacular. We will enjoy this for a day and then get back to work to prepare for the SEC Championship.”
For the second time in Craig’s 17-year tenure, the Wildcats have captured four or more tournament titles in a single season. The 2004-05 season led by UK Athletics Hall of Famer and PGA Tour member J.B. Holmes earned six tournament victories, with five coming during the regular season.
Three players – McDaniel, Mehles and Meyer – all birdied the par-five 18th to put the exclamation point on a round, tournament and the 2017-18 regular season.
UK finished the tournament at 35-under par, while Auburn charted a 31-under score. Ole Miss finished third at 11 under. Florida State was fourth (-6) and Virginia rounded out the top five at even par.
Kentucky will travel to St. Simons Island, Georgia, beginning on April 26 for the SEC Championship.
Featured Scorecards
Chip McDaniel, 2nd, -15
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Total |
| Par | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 72 |
| Rd 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 66 |
| Rd 2 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 69 |
| Rd 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 66 |
McDaniel’s final round was magnificent. He did not commit a single bogey, while picking up six birdies. He began the round with six-consecutive pars before back-to-back-to-back red numbers guided him into the turn. He had a chance at eagle on the par-five 18th, but his putt scooted a foot past the hole before he tapped in for birdie to conclude the final regular-season event of his career. It’s the second top-five finish of the season for the Manchester, Kentucky, native and the 15th top-10 finish of his career.
Max Mehles, T3rd, -7
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Total |
| Par | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 72 |
| Rd 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 70 |
| Rd 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 71 |
| Rd 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 68 |
Behind an impressive final round of 4-under par, Mehles has quietly put together one of the most impressive stretches of any UK player this season. His tie for third is the best finish of his young career, bettering his sixth-place finish at his last event at the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate. He’s earned three top-10 finishes in his last four events and carded par-or-better rounds in six straight and seven of his last eight rounds. The Pulheim, Germany, native fired a 2-under on the front nine, before unloading four birdies to combat a pair of bogeys on the back nine. He had birdies on the 11th and 12th, before giving the strokes back on back-to-back holes beginning on the 14th. Mehles responded in a big way with a red number on the very next hole before finishing with another birdie on the 18th to move ahead 12 spots on the leaderboard for his first top-five finish of his career.
Player Roundup
Meyer earned a tie for sixth, besting a tie for eighth a season ago as the best finish of his career. He did it with rounds of 71-69-70 for the week. It’s the first time this season he’s shot par-or-better in each of his three rounds played. Meyer opened play with consecutive birdies to move into contention early. Six birdies on the day offset four bogeys, but he saved the best for last. With UK needing to pick up a few strokes to move past Auburn, Meyer birdied the 17th and 18th to push the Cats into the lead for good.
Junior Lukas Euler continued his torrid pace with a 3-under score for the tournament and finishing inside the top 20 for the seventh time this season. He concluded this week’s event in 17th after posting a 72-68-73 scorecard. He’s notched par-or-better rounds in 15 of his last 18 rounds played.
Senior Cooper Musselman surged into the top 25 with a 2-under par round on the final day of play. He finished the tournament tied for 22nd and an even-par score. The Louisville, Kentucky, native’s round included four birdies on the day to aid UK’s cause.
Individuals Evan Cox, Matt Liston and Fadhli Soetarso all put together stellar tournaments as well.
Cox fired a 4-under par scorecard for the week to earn a tie for 14th, the second top-15 finish of the season for the senior. Liston tied for 29th propelled by a career-low 68 in the second round. Soetarso tied for 38th with a 72 on the final day. Soetarso logged two rounds of par or better to come just one shot off of his career-low total.
Upcoming Schedule
April 26-29 SEC Championships St. Simons Island, Ga.
Agate
1 – Kentucky (278, 277, 274 – 829, -35)
2 – Chip McDaniel (66, 69, 66 – 201, -15)
T3 – Max Mehles (70, 71, 68 – 209, -7)
T6 – Fred Allen Meyer (71, 69, 70 – 210, -6)
17 – Lukas Euler (72, 68, 73 – 213, -3)
T22– Cooper Musselman (71, 75, 70 – 216, E)
Individuals
T14 – Evan Cox (68, 71, 73 – 212, -4)
T29 – Matt Liston (73, 68, 77 – 218, +2)
T38 – Fadhli Soetarso (70, 78, 72 – 220, +4)
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s golf team, follow @UKMensGolf on Twitter and on the web at UKathletics.com.
