March 16, 2003

Tuscaloosa, Ala. – The University of Kentucky men’s golf team finished the Conrad Rehling Spring Invitational at the par-71Capstone Club in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Sunday, March 16, in fourth place, out of 13 teams, with a three-round 18-over par total of 870. The Cats ended up 13 strokes behind tournament winner Auburn who finished with a five-over 857. Tournament host Alabama finished second with a 13-over 865, while Southeastern Louisiana, with a 15-over 867, and Illinois, with a 22-over 874, rounded out the top five.

Sophomore John Holmes led UK on Sunday with a 2-under par 69 to move himself into a tie for fifth place, with Southeastern Louisiana’s Steven Tiley. Both players finished with an even-par three-day total of 213. Holmes’ classmate Brandon Waldrop finished tied for 10th place with a four-over 217 for the tournament. Senior Mark Blakefield finished tied for 23rd place with a 9-over par 222. Ryan Coyne (224), also a senior, finished in 36th, while freshman Matt Kohn (227) finished 49th. Illinois’s James Lepp won individual honors with a two-under 211.

The Cats have two weeks off before hosting the Johnny Owens Invitational Tournament at the University Club in Lexington, Ky. The tournament will be played March 29-30.

Agate:

Top-5 Teams
1 Auburn284 286 287 857 (+5)
2 Alabama287 292 286 865 (+13)
3 SE Louisiana290 293 284 867 (+15)
4 Kentucky287 291 292 870 (+18)
5 Illinois292 291 291 874 (+22)

Top-5 Players
1 James Lepp Illinois 73 68 70 211 (-2)
2 Jay Mundy Auburn 70 68 74 212 (-1)
Will Claxton Auburn 72 71 69 212 (-1)
Patrick Nagle Illinois 70 71 71 212 (-1)
5 Steven Tiley SE La 71 69 73 213 (E)
John Holmes UK 72 72 69 213 (E)

UK Finishers
T5 John Holmes 72 72 69 213 (E)
T10 Brandon Waldrop72 73 72 217 (+4)
T23 Mark Blakefield73 75 74 222 (+9)
T36 Ryan Coyne75 71 78 224 (+11)
T49 Matt Kohn70 80 77 227 (+14)