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HOT SPRINGS, Va. ? The Kentucky men?s golf team battled through cold and rainy conditions to finish eighth in the 107th NCAA Division I Men?s Golf Championship at The Homestead Resort?s Cascades Course, Friday. The Cats shot a 303 in the final round and recorded their highest finish in school history in NCAA championship play. Junior John Holmes (71-69-67-72=279) carded a 2-over par 72 to finish tied for sixth as an individual and was named PING/GCAA First Team All-America.
?We have had a good run,? Coach Brian Craig said. ?We played terrific for three rounds, but today we didn?t handle the elements very well.?
California (279-289-287-279=1134) appeared to be the only team that wasn?t affected by the rain as it posted a 1-under par 279 to claim the team title. UCLA (289-283-275-293=1140) began the round in first place and finished as runners-up as Arizona, Texas and Georgia Tech rounded out the top-five. Ryan Moore (67-70-64-66=267) of UNLV claimed medalist honors with an impressive 13-under par finish.
Holmes was the Cats? highest finisher and received the second All-America honor of his career. He was named Third Team All-American as a freshman and was honorable mention as a sophomore.
?I hadn?t really had my ?A? game anytime this week,? Holmes said. ?Today the rain might have affected me a little bit, but it happens that way sometimes in golf.?
Junior Matt Wells (68-68-68-77=281) finished 1-over par to finish tied for eighth. Wells began the day in third place, just three strokes behind the leader, but got off to a rough start on the front nine. He made the turn at 5-over par, but held on to record his second top-10 tournament of the post-season. Wells finished tied for eighth at the NCAA Central Region Championships as well.
?I really didn?t play that well today,? Wells said. ?I didn?t make a lot of putts, but it has been an unreal week for our team and we?ll do our best to make it back next year.?
Sophomore Tyler Wilson (82-79-77-75=313) had his best round of the tournament with a 5-over par 75 and junior Brandon Waldrop (73-77-74-79=303) carded a 79 on Friday afternoon. Junior Mark Blakefield struggled in the final round carding an 84, but finished tied for 35th overall.
Craig and the Cats are optimistic about next season. UK does not have any seniors on its team and its lineup for most of the year will most likely feature four seniors and a junior, all of which have NCAA and post-season experience.
?The bright side is that everyone is coming back,? Craig said. ?Hopefully next year we?ll be right back here ? a little wiser and a little better.?
Kentucky Scores
T6 John Holmes 71-69-67-72=279
T8 Matt Wells 68-68-68-77=281
T35 Mark Blakefield 71-72-74-84=301
T67 Brandon Waldrop 73-77-74-79=303
80 Tyler Wilson 82-79-77-75=313
