Feb. 17, 2009
PONTE VERDRA BEACH, Fla. – Kentucky men’s golf finished second in its spring-season debut after firing a tournament team-low, third-round 291 in the final 18 holes of the Jacksonville University Invitational on the 6,838, par-72 TPC Sawgrass Valley Course. Senior co-captain Andy Winings led the Wildcats with a one-over par tournament performance.
The Wildcats entered the day eight strokes behind second-round leader and tournament winner Lamar University. With a strong charge throughout the day, Kentucky (294-305-291-890) closed the gap to finish one stroke behind No. 30 Lamar (299-292-298-889). Kentucky had a final-round, team-stroke average of 72.75, besting its season third-round, team-stroke average by nearly two full strokes.
Winings’ (67-77-72-217) hot hand over the last two days led to a personal season-record low round of 67 in Tuesday’s opening 18 holes, which included his second career hole-in-one. With a tournament one-over par performance, Winings three-round total of 217 was the second lowest three-round total of the year for the senior.
Sophomore James Kania (76-73-72-221) proved to be a diamond in the rough with a stellar performance in his third start of the season. The Haverford, Penn., native entered the tournament battling a bit of illness en route to setting a new personal season-best, low-round 72 in the third round and a season-low, three-round total 221. Kania finished the tournament tied for sixth place.
Finishing tied for 15th place, junior Jordan Blann (80-75-73-228) made consistent progress throughout the tournament setting the stage for a personal season-best finish. Previously, Blann’s best finish was a tie for 27th place last fall in the Prestige at PGA West.
Rounding out the scoring for Kentucky was senior co-captain Ben Fuqua (77-80-73-230),who finished tied for 19th and freshman Mads Kristensen (74-80-80-234) who tied for the 24th spot.
Competing as individuals, junior Derek Oldham (81-78-76-235) tied for 27th, sophomore Chase Carpenter (80-80-78-238) tied for 32nd and junior Alex Volpenhein (87-91-84-262) landed in the 53rd spot.
The Wildcats return to action Feb. 23rd when they return to Florida to participate in the Rio Pinar Invitational in Orlando. Kentucky will look to best last year’s 10th-place finish in the Rio Pinar Invitational.
