Oct. 28, 2014
VERO BEACH, Fla. – The final round of fall competition ended with a major win for the Kentucky men’s golf team. Freshman Tyler `Chip’ McDaniel carded a final round 4-under par, 68, to win the Quail Valley Collegiate Invitational on Tuesday. McDaniel’s three-round total of 11-under par, 205, is the best 52-hole performance by a UK golfer since David Snyder had a 205 a season ago. It’s the first win of the season for a Wildcat and first since Ben Stow won the Hootie at Bulls Bay in the spring.
“I could not be more proud of Chip McDaniel who got his first collegiate win in just his fourth career start,” UK coach Brian Craig said. “What a performance for a super talented young man who also works hard to be excellent at his craft.
“As a team, we just did not have our best stuff this week. We were close, but need to use the off season to get better. We have always played better in the spring semester during my time here, and I am confidence this year will be the same. In fact, I can’t wait to watch this young team continue to grow and improve. We just need some more experience and patience.”
In addition to taking home the crown, McDaniel rebounded from a slow start. The Manchester, Ky., native logged a pair of bogeys in two of the first four holes to begin the day. But, the first-year player rebounded and earned his first birdie at hole No. 7. At the turn, he logged his second birdie of the afternoon before putting together a below par score on three-straight holes from 13-through-15. McDaniel concluded the round by paring the remaining three holes to finish with a 4-under par, 68, on the final day of competition for his first collegiate victory.
For the week, McDaniel posted an 11-under score and was under par by at least two strokes in all three rounds. It is the third top-20 finish of the season for McDaniel who leads all Wildcat golfers with a stroke average of 72.83 for the fall season.
Kentucky concluded action with a 288 final round score to finish in sixth place overall at 6-under par. North Florida claimed the team title with Tennessee, Michigan State, Stephen F. Austin and host McNeese State rounding out the top five.
Snyder fired an even-par, 72, on the final day of competition to move into a tie for 23rd overall. Snyder concluded the tournament with an even-par score of 216 – matching his best total for a three-round tournament during the 2014-15 season.
Junior Harrison Greenberry tied for 36th overall, and ended the tournament at 3-over par. Stephen Stallings finished in 60th overall, while freshman Cooper Musselman shot a final round 1-under par, 71, to finish the tournament strong.
The Quail Valley Collegiate Invitational concludes fall action for the Wildcats. UK returns to the links Feb. 23-24, 2015 at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate on the Magnolia Grove Golf Course.
For more information on the University of Kentucky men’s golf team please visit UKathletics.com and follow us on Twitter @UKmensgolf.
Quail Valley Golf Club
Vero Beach, Fla.
Par: 72
AGATE:
6-Kentucky: 282-288-288-858 (-6)
T1 – Tyler `Chip’ McDaniel: 67-70-68-205 (-11)
T23 – David Snyder: 70-74-72-216 (E)
T36 – Harrison Greenberry: 71-71-77-219 (+3)
T60 – Stephen Stallings: 74-73-77-224 (+8)
66 – Cooper Musselman: 79-76-71-226 (+10)
