Sept. 12, 2014
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Freshman Cooper Musselman is The Invitational at The Ocean Course’s leader following a sunny and humid opening round of action on Friday in Kiawah Island, S.C. Musselman, playing in his first collegiate tournament, carded a first-round 5-under par, 67, which are two strokes shy of the tournament record. Kentucky as a team sits in a tie for third place and just one stroke behind second place.
“Not our best round today, but I am proud of the guys for fighting through some high numbers,” UK coach Brian Craig said. “We counted five doubles and a triple bogey. That took us out of a potentially good round, but we still managed to stay competitive.
“What a round by Cooper Musselman to open his college career with a 67 on The Ocean Course,” Craig said. “He did a great job of leading the team today.”
Musselman was five strokes below par and benefited from six birdies on the day. Musselman started the course on the back nine and carded a 34. After turning the corner, the Louisville, Ky., native added three more birdies for a 33.
Kentucky as a team fired a 4-over par, 292, and is tied for third with Duke. South Florida is the leader following the opening 18 holes with a 282. That score is a new tournament record. The College of Charleston sits in second with a 291.
Sophomore Stephen Stallings carded a 1-over par, 73 as UK’s second lowest scorer and is tied for 15th. Freshman Tyler McDaniel posted a 3-over par, 75 in his first collegiate round and sits in a tie for 27th. Rounding out Kentucky’s lineup were junior David Snyder with a 77 and senior Will Bishop with a 79.
Playing as individuals, freshman Fred Allen Meyer is tied for 19th with a 2-over par 74. Junior Todd McDaniel carded an 85.
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort has played host to the 2007 Senior PGA and 2012 PGA Championships and is only the fourth course to host each of the PGA of America’s major championships. Probably no other golf course in the world outside of the United Kingdom and Ireland is affected as much by the wind. Located on the eastern-most end of Kiawah Island, The Ocean Course has more seaside holes than any other course in the Northern Hemisphere.
The course is a par 72, with a total distance of 7,115 yards. Saturday the players will take the course for another 18 holes beginning at 11:40 a.m. ET off tee one and 12:10 off of hole No. 10. Sunday’s final round of 18 will be a shotgun start at 8 a.m. ET. Fans can follow along with live scoring at Golfstat.com.
For more information on the University of Kentucky men’s golf team please visit UKathletics.com and follow us on Twitter @UKmensgolf.
The Ocean Course
Kiawah Island, S.C.,
Sept. 12-14
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,115
First Round Results:
T3. Kentucky: 292 (+4)
1 – Cooper Musselman: 67 (-5)
T15 – Stephen Stallings: 73 (+1)
T27 – Tyler McDaniel: 75 (+3)
T44 – David Snyder: 77 (+5)
T59 – Will Bishop: 79 (+7)
*T19 – Fred Allen Meyer: 74 (+2)
*T77 – Todd McDaniel: 85 (+13)
