March 25, 2014
AWENDAW, S.C. – Eighteen holes weren’t enough for senior golfer Ben Stow to earn his first collegiate individual title. Having only been playing collegiate golf for just over a year, Stow needed a playoff to bring home the win at the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate, and he delivered with a birdie on the 18th hole to top Auburn’s Niclas Carlsson. Stow and Carlsson each finished the tournament with a seven-under par, 209.
The Kentucky men’s golf team finished in sixth with a final team score of two-over par, 866, just missing out on a seventh top-five finish this season.
Stow, a Salisbury, England, native entered the final round tied for third at two-under par. After tough weather conditions forced high scores during the second round on Monday, Stow came out on a mission, finishing with a five-under par, 67, on the final 18 holes. For the tournament Stow had a team-best 14 birdies, including six in the final round.
“How good is Ben Stow to bounce back and win this week with a birdie on the first playoff hole,” exclaimed Kentucky head coach Brian Craig. “I am so proud of him and happy for him. He works his tail off and it is nice to see it pay off with a win.”
His final round score of 67 is just his third sub-70 score of the season. Stow fired a 65 during the final round of the AutoTrader.com Collegiate Classic in October. His previous top finish happened twice this season when he tied for fourth at the AutoTrader.com Collegiate Classic and Querencia Cabo Collegiate. He becomes the first UK player to finish first since Will Bishop won the Querencia Cabo Collegiate last season.
The Wildcats turned in a season-best round score of 15-under par, 273 on Tuesday. Auburn won the team championship at 12-under par, 852, while South Carolina (-9), College of Charleston (-7), Virginia (-6) and Wake Forest (+1) complete the top five.
Rounding out the rest of the team standings were Missouri (+4), GRU Augusta (+12), North Carolina State (+17), South Carolina-Aiken (+22), Charleston Southern (+25), Duke (+34), Akron (+35), Wisconsin (+35) and North Carolina (+40).
“We had a great bounce back round today,” Craig said. “I am super proud of these guys. We needed a good round today and the guys delivered. What a great week for Ben Stow and Stephen Powers. They both played exceptional golf in leading this team. A particular shoutout to Ben for his determination and moxie in playing this well at the Hootie after having an off week at the Schenkel.”
For the second straight tournament, senior Stephen Powers registered a top 10 finish by placing in sixth with a final score of five-under par, 211. Powers, like Stow, shot a final round of five-under par, 67, to claim his best three-day score of the season. He finished the tournament with 12 birdies and an eagle.
Bishop regrouped after an eight-over par, 80 on Monday to shoot an even par, 72 on Tuesday. Bishop tied for 40th with an eight-over par, 224 final score. Three of Bishop’s four birdies came on the back nine holes.
Senior Cody Martin turned in his best round of the week with a two-under par, 70. Martin finished in a tie for 51st at 11-over par, 227. After posting zero birdies in round two, Martin recorded three on the final day to go with just one bogey.
The third UK player to finish the day with a sub-70 round was junior David Snyder, who ended his week with a three-under par, 69. His final round consisted of four birdies and only one bogey. Snyder tied for 64th at 13-over par, 229.
Up Next:
UK will host the Bluegrass Invitational at the University Club, held April 12-13. For more information on the University of Kentucky men’s golf team please visit UKathletics.com and follow on Twitter @UKmensgolf.
Bulls Bay Golf Club
Awendaw, S.C. – March 23-25
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,280
Final Results:
6. Kentucky: 283-310-273=866 (+2)
T1. Ben Stow: 69-73-67=209 (-7)
6. Stephen Powers: 69-75-67=211 (-5)
T40. Will Bishop: 70-82-72=224 (+8)
T52. Cody Martin: 77-80-70=227 (+11)
T62. David Snyder: 75-85-69=229 (+13)
