Sept. 1, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. — The Kentucky men’s golf team has been recognized by the Golf Coaches Association of America as an Outstanding Academic Team for the 2008-09 school year, the GCAA announced Tuesday.

“Our student-athletes have done a fabulous job in the classroom for quite a while now,” said Kentucky men’s golf head coach Brian Craig. “I am extremely proud of them for achieving this honor to go along with winning this past year’s Academic Achievement Award at our annual CATSPY awards dinner.”

The exclusive award, which is in its first year, recognizes teams who post a remarkable overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. The Wildcats were one of only 45 men’s golf teams to be honored with the title of Outstanding Academic Team. Six other Southeastern Conference schools were also honored with the award, including Florida, Georgia, Louisiana State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

Earlier this summer, Kentucky placed six golfers on the SEC Spring Honor Roll, including 2009-10 seniors Ben Fuqua, Derek Oldham and Alex Volpenhein, junior James Kania and sophomore Chase Carpenter. The other recipient was 2008-09 senior Andy Winings. In addition to the spring honor roll, the men’s golf team placed all three freshmen from last season, Joseph Barr, Seth Blann and Mads Kristensen, on the SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll.

The men’s golf team was also selected as the male academic team of the year at the UK annual CATSPY awards dinner. The CATSPY awards are held every year at UK, and honor athletes and athletic teams for accomplishments they have gained during the athletic season. 

On the course, the Wildcats have began qualifying for the 2009 fall portion of their schedule and will begin play on Sept. 12 when they head to Zionsville, Ind., to co-host the Wolf Run Intercollegiate with Indiana University.