HOWIE-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. ? The University of Kentucky men?s golf team beat Pepperdine, but was defeated 3-1-1 by Penn State in the third round of the Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship, thus being eliminated from the tournament.

?It?s a different event, in match play anything can happen,? UK head coach Brian Craig said. ?We found out today that we are a pretty good team but we are not that good. This was a great wake-up call for us and we have quite a ways to go. We need to refocus and recommit to compete for our goal of winning a National Championship.?

Kentucky defeated Pepperdine 3-1-1, as John Holmes (2 and 1), Mark Blakefield (1-up) and Matt Wells (3 and 2) all recorded victories for UK. Sophomore Andrew Stephens halved Pepperdine?s Brain O?Flaherty and Wildcat, Cale Barr was defeated 4 and 3 by Pepperdine?s Michael Baird.

Against Penn State John Holmes split with Penn State?s Mark Leon, while Mark Blakefield captured the Cats lone win against Penn State’s Marco Poccia. Matt Wells, Cale Barr and Andrew Stephens all recorded close matches, but came up short for UK.

The Cats will begin spring play February 5-6 at the Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla.

-UK-