LEXINGTON, Ky. ? The University of Kentucky men?s golf team returns to action this weekend, Apr. 20-22, as they compete in the Southeastern Conference Championships. The three-day event takes place at par-70 Sea Island Golf Club?s Seaside Course in Sea Island, Ga.
The Wildcats have been idle since finishing 13th at the Hootie at Bulls Bay Invitational, Mar. 25-26, in Awendaw, S.C. UK has won finished in the top 16 in its past four tournaments, but has not won an event since taking home the hardware at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate, Oct. 7-8, in Zionsville, Ind.
UK has fallen out of the top 25 ranking this season, but will face elite competition with five SEC foes ranked among the nation?s best. Georgia holds the top spot, followed by Alabama who is third in the latest national rankings by GolfWorld/Nike Golf. Florida is currently No. 4, while Tennessee and Auburn are No. 16 and No. 24, respectively.
The Wildcats send an experienced lineup to Sea Island as senior Tyler Wilson, juniors Brad Doster and Cale Barr, sophomore Andy Winings and freshman Alex Volpenhein will represent the Blue and White this weekend.
Wilson, Doster and Winings all competed in 2005-06 when the Wildcats turned in a fourth-place team finish. Doster finished tied for 14th overall to lead UK, while Wilson ended at five-over par and tied for 20th. Winings competed as a freshman and placed 56th in his first SEC tournament.
Winings and Volpenhein are the only two players to play in every event this season. Winings leads the team with a 73.37 stroke average and had his best finish of the season when he was second at Wolf Run. Volpenhein has a 74.26 stroke average and has a pair of top-10 finishes including a second-place finish at the Southern Highlands Collegiate earlier this spring.
Doster leads the team with three top-10 finishes this season, including a third-place finish at the Topy Cup in the Cats? season-opening tournament. Doster has a stroke average of 73.92, while Wilson and Barr are shooting an average of 75.00 and 76.67, respectively.
?We have our backs up against the wall due to our inconsistent play this spring,? said head coach Brian Craig. ?I would like to think that the law of averages is in our favor which means we are due for a good showing. We are taking our most veteran lineup and we are ready for the challenge of competing in the best golf conference in all of college golf.?
