Feb. 23, 2010
MOBILE, Ala. — Behind another great performance from senior Jordan Blann, shooting even-par for the second consecutive day, and the lowest round of the tournament for junior Brian Belden and sophomore Mads Kristensen, the Kentucky men’s golf team jumped three spots up the leaderboard and finished 11th at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate on Tuesday.
Blann (78-72-72-222), who carded a UK tournament-low score of even-par on Monday, followed with another impressive even-par on Tuesday. The native of Bowling Green, Ky., was on pace to post a 2-under-par score on the final round but had a setback on the final hole, double-bogeying the par-4 ninth.
The 2009 Kentucky Golf Association Amateur Player of the Year started on the 10th hole and was at 2-over-par when he made the turn. Blann put himself in position to card a top-20 score when he birdied four of the first six holes on the back nine, including three straight birdies. The senior finished the tournament at 6-over-par. It is the third top-20 finish on the year for Blann, who finished tied for 10th at the Hummingbird Invitational and tied for 12th at the Firestone Invitational.
Freshman Chase Parker (73-73-77-223), who was leading all Wildcats heading into the final round, could not find his touch in the final 18 holes. The native of Augusta, Ga., carded a 5-over-par 77 in the final round and finished the tournament at 7-over-par and in a tie for 25th.
Belden (79-75-74-222) and Kristensen (80-77-74-231) improved the most on Tuesday, with both players scoring their best round of the tournament with a 2-over-par 74. Belden, a native of Emmaus, Pa., advanced up the leaderboard and into a tie for 52nd while Kristensen moved into a tie for 69th. Belden ended the tournament at 12-over-par, while Kristensen finished at 15-over-par.
Sophomore Chase Carpenter (73-81-74-228), who struggled a bit on Monday, regained his swing and also shot a 2-over-par to finish tied with Belden in 52nd. Carpenter, a native of Salyersville, Ky., shot four birdies in the final round and ended the tournament at 12-over-par.
Senior Ben Fuqua (77-80-79-236) shot a 7-over-par 79 in the final round and finished the tournament tied for 91st. Overall, Fuqua shot a 20-over-par at the tournament.
Kentucky (307-297-297-901) finished the tournament in 11th, advancing three spots up the leaderboard on the final day at the Magnolia Groove Crossings Golf Course. The tournament was won by Ole Miss (291-285-301-877) with Illinois State finishing second (293-293-292-878). The individual title was won by Kent Bulle (67-72-74-213) of Middle Tennessee and Jack Hiluta (70-72-71-213) of South Alabama.
UK will return to action on March 19, when it plays in the Schenkel E-Z-GO Invitational.
