Mehles, Meyer Lead Cats During Final Round of Athens Regional
ATHENS, Ga. – Seniors Max Mehles and Fred Allen Meyer led the way for the Kentucky men’s golf team in the final round of the NCAA Athens Regional. Despite the Cats turning in their best round of the tournament, they did not move into one of the top-five spots needed to advance to the NCAA Championship next week.
Mehles finished in a tie for 18th after a 2-over 73 round in the final round of his collegiate career. He ended the week at 3-over after shooting 73, 71, 73 in the three-day tournament at the University of Georgia Golf Course. This week’s finish gave Mehles his fifth top-20 result of the season and eighth of his career. He also notched his 14th par or better round of the season this weekend and 27th of his career.
In his final round as a Wildcat, senior Fred Allen Meyer made the most of it, as he went 1-under on the day to finish in a tie for 36th. It was his 12th par or better round of the season and the 33rd of his career. It was also his best round of play since his 7-under 65 at the Shoal Creek Invitational. A stellar opening nine included birdies on 11, 12 and 17.
Kentucky moved up one spot in the team rankings during round three, finishing in ninth place at 28-over. The Wildcats shot 8-over as a team during the final round.
“I hate that our season is over, but I am so proud of this team,” UK head coach Brian Craig said. “We had a horrible fall season and bounced back to have a solid year. Finishing third at the SEC Championship and having a legitimate chance at advancing to the NCAA Finals is nothing to be ashamed of for this group.
“I am especially proud of our seniors Fred Allen Meyer, Lukas Euler and Max Mehles. These are outstanding young men that anybody would love to have marry their daughter. I have a daughter and that is the highest compliment I can give. They will forever be a part of our Wildcat family. The best is yet to come for these young men and I can’t wait to watch their lives unfold.”
Senior Lukas Euler also played his final round at Kentucky on Wednesday, going 4-over for the second time this week. He finished in a tie for 44th. Euler ends his career with 55 par or better rounds, 20 top-20 and eight top-10 finishes during his time in Lexington.
The Wildcats inserted a new face in the lineup today, as redshirt freshman Zach Norris made his first postseason start on Wednesday. Norris made a team-high four birdies on Wednesday on his way to a 4-over 75. That marks his best round since he went 73, 71, 71 at the Seminole Intercollegiate in February.
Freshman Cullan Brown ended his first season at Kentucky with an 8-over 79 to finish at 16-over for the week. After being hurt during the fall slate, Brown returned in the spring and made an immediate impact for the Wildcats. Ten par or better rounds, two top-10 and four top-20 finishes highlighted his impressive year. He finished in a tie for ninth at the SEC Championship and also tied a Craig-era individual round record at the Mason Rudolph Championship with a 64 in his opening round.
While Kentucky did not make the NCAA Championship for the second consecutive season, this was its fourth straight appearance in an NCAA Regional after making up ground in the rankings during the spring. The Wildcats stepped up their game once the calendar turned to 2019 with top-four finishes at the Mason Rudolph and Shoal Creek Invitational to conclude the regular season.
The team carried its momentum over from its impressive play into the SEC Championship where the Wildcats moved past stroke play for the first time in the three-year history of match play at the event by finishing third overall during the 54-hole stroke play. As the four seed, the Wildcats defeated fifth-seeded Tennessee 4-1-0 to advance to the semifinals for the first time in school history.
As Kentucky ends its season, the Wildcats say goodbye to seniors Mehles, Meyer and Euler. Junior Matt Liston, Brown and Norris will all return, giving the Wildcats three players with postseason experience heading into next season.
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s golf team, follow @UKMensGolf on Twitter and on the web at UKathletics.com.
