March 31, 2009
AWENDAW, S.C. – Against an ultra competitive 15-team field, the Kentucky men’s golf team placed ninth in its fifth appearance in the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate. Junior Jordan Blann led the Wildcats on the 6,596-yard, par-71 Bulls Bay course with a four-under par.
Kentucky ties its best finish in the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate with a ninth-place finish in 2007-08 and 2008-09 season. The Wildcats top score in the Hootie came in March 2005 when they took the tournament title.
“We are getting a lot better and starting to play with a lot more confidence,” head coach Brian Craig said. “We continue to get better as we get closer to the Southeastern Conference championships.”
Blann, a Bowling Green, Ky., native, finished in a tie for fifth place for his first top-10 collegiate finish after firing a 64 and setting a new career record in Monday’s second round. The Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate was the first time in Blann’s UK career that he has finished with an under-par score. The Hootie was the second time in the 2008-09 season that the junior led the Wildcats in scoring. Kentucky shot a three-round total of 226 en route to a 13th-place finish in the Prestige at PGA West in October.
“A big congratulations goes to Jordan Blann,” Craig said. “His second round 64 was simply brilliant.”
Blann’s second-round score of 64 is the lowest career score on the current roster, and his three-round tournament score of 209 is the second lowest score of anyone currently on the roster.
Senior Andy Winings has had a track record of success this season with six top-20 finishes in nine tournaments. The Hootie at Bulls Bay was no exception as the Brownsburg, Ind., native shot even par to finish with his seventh top-20 posting of the season. The co-captain finished with a share of the 15th spot after torching the course with a career-low, six-under-par 65 during the middle 18 holes.
Fellow senior co-captain Ben Fuqa shot a one-over-par in Tuesday’s final round to finish tied for 36th. Fuqua shot a three-round total of 213 for his lowest tournament score of the spring season.
Freshman Mads Kristensen shot an 11-over par to tie for 63rd, while sophomore James Kania finished tied for 66th with a 226 three-round total.
Kentucky returns to the Bluegrass State to host the second annual UK Bluegrass Invitational April 11-12 on its home course at the University Club. The event will be open to the public and will the only chance to see Kentucky men’s golf team in action in Lexington this season. Log on to UKathletics.com to keep up to date on the latest news throughout the 2008-09 season.
9 Kentucky +4 F 300 273 283 856 T5 Jordan Blann -4 F 74 64 71 209 T15 Andy Winings E F 76 65 72 213 T36 Ben Fuqua +5 F 75 73 70 218 T63 Mads Kristensen +11 F 75 79 70 224 T66 James Kania +13 F 80 71 75 226
