The University of Kentucky men?s golf team finished in 17th place after the final round of the NCAA Division I Men?s Golf West Regional at Gold Mountain Golf Club. Southern California won the regional after shooting a two-under par 862(291-283-288.
The Wildcats completed their ninth NCAA run after shooting a 36-over par 900(302-291-307) for the three-day event.
Sophomore Alex Volpenhein (Ft. Mitchell, Ky.) led the Wildcats this week, carding a six-over par 864(74-72-75) behind the strength of 11 birdies in his final tournament of the year. Volpenhein finished tied for 35th in his first NCAA regional tournament.
?It was also good to have Alex Volpenhein back playing well,? coach Brian Craig said. ?He has worked hard this spring semester and we will definitely need him next year.”
Kentucky native senior Cale Barr (Versailles, Ky.) finished tied for 52nd in his final NCAA tournament as a Wildcat. Barr posted a nine-over par 225(74-72-78) for the regional. Fellow teammate sophomore Brian Belden (Emmaus, Pa.) shot a third-round 77 to bring his total score to 226(77-72-77) and finished tied for 57th after shooting the lowest round for any Wildcat in the tournament during the second round when he fired a even-par 72.
Junior Andy Winings (Brownsburg, Ind.) finished at six-over 77 after carding a final-hole birdie on the par-four 18th. Winings concluded the regional at 11-over par 227(77-73-77) and tied for 63rd. Senior Brad Doster (Winter Park, Fla.) rounded out the scoring for Kentucky with an 80 to finish at 239(83-76-80). Doster was able to card a pair of birdies in the final round par-four tenth hole and par-three 16th.
?We played terrific golf through the first 45 holes of this Regional,? coach Craig said. ?Unfortunately, we could not have had a more difficult final nine holes which knocked us out of advancing to the NCAA Championship. Regardless of our poor finish, I am proud of the way this team competed this week. We gave ourselves a great chance to advance with only nine holes to play.?
Following the winning Trojans in the west region, Oregon came in second at even par 864(289-290-285), followed by Clemson 867(295-285-287), then Washington who finished fourth with an 847(291-294-289) and completing the top five is UCLA who shot an 878(296-297-285).
Oregon?s Joey Benedetti took home medalist honors after finishing with a nine-under par 207 (69-69-69).
UK Scores
T35 ? Alex Volpenhein ? 222 (74-73-75)
T52 ? Cale Barr ? 225 (74-73-78)
T57 ? Brian Belden ? 226 (77-72-77)
T63 ? Andy Winings ? 227 (77-73-77)
T131 ? Brad Doster ? 239 (83-76-80)
