Sept. 23, 2003

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky men’s golf team finished sixth out of 18 schools in the weather-shortened Mason Rudolph Championship in Nashville, Tenn., after shooting a team total 297 second round. The University of Alabama-Birmingham won the overall team title with a 563 two-day total and the Cats finished with a 589 two-day total.

Junior All-American John Holmes picked up his second top-10 finish of the season. The Campbellsville, Ky., native shot a two-day 143 to earn a tie for seventh overall. Holmes finished second in Kentucky’s first tournament of the year, the Cleveland Golf/Kiawah Island Intercollegiate in Kiawah Island, S.C. Sept. 8 and 9.

Head coach Brian Craig felt UK could have played better, but is optimistic about the rest of the season.

“We had good rounds both days, but we were unable to finish them,” Craig said. “We are disappointed in our finish, but we’ll bounce back at the Franklin Street Invitational.”

Sophomore Matt Kohn shot a 73 in both rounds to earn a tie for 21st while junior Mark Blakefield finished tied for 26th with a 147 two-day total.

Kentucky will head to Chapel Hill, N.C., Oct. 3-5, to compete in the Franklin Street Invitational hosted by the University of North Carolina.

Team Standings1.  Univ. of Alabama-Birmingham   2732905632.  Texas A&M Univ.               2932845773.  South Carolina                2902905804.  Vanderbilt Univ.              2952895845.  Mississippi, Univ. of         2902965866.  Kentucky, Univ. of            2922975897.  Louisiana State Univ.         291299590    Baylor Univ.                  291299590    South Carolina-Aiken          28830259010. Georgia State Univ.           29130459511. Charleston, College of        295303598    Florida State Univ.           29330559813. Furman Univ.                  297303600    Rhode Island, Univ. of        29830260015. Alabama, Univ. of             29630960516. Virginia, Univ. of            29930760617. North Florida, Univ. of       29931961818. Navy                          311311622

Top Five Finishes1. Chris Cousins UAB 67-69 136 Stephen Reed Texas A&M 71-65 1363. Garrett Osborn UAB 66-72 1384. Martin Rominger S. Carolina 72-67 139 Billy Hurley Navy 69-70 139

Kentucky ScoresT-7. John Holmes 69-74 143T-21. Matt Kohn 73-73 146T-26. Mark Blakefield 74-73 147T-68. Matt Wells 76-79 15583. Tyler Wilson 84-77 161