April 13, 2003
Final Results
Columbus, Ohio –
The University of Kentucky men’s golf team likely solidified an NCAA berth with its third-place finish at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate being played at Ohio State’s par-72 Scarlet Course. The Cats fired a tournament-low 293 in the tournament’s final round to move up from Saturday’s sixth-place position into the top five of the 18-team field and finished with a three-round total of 900. Host Ohio State won the tournament with a three-round 893, while Illinois (897), Indiana (901) and Miami of Ohio (906) rounded out the top five. This was UK’s seventh top-five finish, in 10 tournaments played, this year.
Kentucky essentially played a man down on Sunday, as sophomore Mark Blakefield was hampered by back spasms during the final round. With Blakefield playing injured, the remaining members of the UK squad needed to step up and carry the load.
Sophomore John Holmes, who finished the second round tied for 15th-place, shot an even-par 72 on Sunday and moved into the top 10 to finish tied for eighth with a three-round 222 (+6). Freshman Matt Kohn fired a 1-over par 73 to finish tied for 13th with a 224, which was eight-over for the tournament. Sophomore Brandon Waldrop shot 77 and 83 on Saturday to leave him at the back of the field tied for 83rd, with a 160. On Sunday, Waldrop fired a one-over 73 to catapult himself into a tie for 47th with a 233 (+17). Senior Ryan Coyne also improved his position, moving up to 25th from 30th with a third-round 75 and finished at 12-over par with a 228.
“I am extremely proud of the way our guys played today,” Coach Brian Craig said. “With Mark Blakefield injured, the other four guys new they would have to step up their play and that is what they did. Those four went out and shot a tournament-low round of 293 and pretty much saved our NCAA chances. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Toledo’s Brad Heaven won individual honors, finishing at three over with a 219. Ohio State’s Zach Doran and Illinois’s Patrick Neagle finished tied for second at 220. Four other players were tied for fourth at five-over.
Kentucky is off for two weeks. Their next tournament will be the SEC Men’s Golf Championships, beginning Friday, Apr. 25. The tournament will be played at the par-70 Seaside Golf Course in Sea Island, Ga.
Agate:
Teams
1Ohio State 297 294 302 893 (+29)
2Illinois299 302 296 897 (+33)
3Kentucky 306 301 293 900 (+36)
4Indiana302 298 301 901 (+37)
5Miami (Ohio) 303 302 301 906 (+42)
6Kent State306 303 298 907 (+43)
T7Purdue301 306 302 909 (+45)
9Toledo307 294 312 913 (+49)
10Michigan St.309 302 306 917 (+53)
11Kansas St.313 303 307 923 (+59)
12Iowa 309 307 315 931 (+67)
T13Notre Dame307 318 311 936 (+72)
T13E. Michigan 314 312 310 936 (+72)
15Ohio 307 313 317 937 (+73)
16Michigan308 311 322 941 (+77)
17Wisconsin319 306 319 944 (+80)
18Marshall313 316 329 958 (+94)
Top-Five Players
1 Brad HeavenToledo74 69 76 219 (+3)
T2Zach DoranOhio State69 77 74 220 (+4)
T2 Patrick NagleIllinois74 73 73 220 (+4)
T4James LeppIllinois72 76 73 221 (+5)
T4Eric PhippsMiami (OH)76 70 75 221 (+5)
T4Jeff OvertonIndiana 72 71 78 221 (+5)
T4Ryan YipKent State78 72 71 221 (+5)
UK Players
T8John Holmes 80 70 72 222 (+6)
T13Matt Kohn77 74 73 224 (+8)
T25Ryan Coyne76 77 75 228 (+12)
T47 Brandon Waldrop77 83 73 233 (+17)
T64Mark Blakefield 76 80 81 237 (+21)
=”http:>
