March 1, 2010

VALDOSTA, Ga. – With 30 holes completed on the first day of play, the University of Kentucky women’s golf team ranks 14th at the Kinderlou Forest Challenge held at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club (6,265 yards, par 73) in Valdosta, Ga. The Wildcats carded a first-round 313 and stand at 19-over par through the completed portion of the second round.

Play was suspended at 6:30 p.m. EST and the remaining holes are set to resume Tuesday with an 8:30 a.m. EST shotgun start. The final 18 holes will immediately follow. A 54-hole tournament, two rounds of 18 were originally scheduled for Monday with the final round slated for Tuesday.

Completing 30 holes of action, freshman Betsie Johnson leads the Wildcats into the final day in 24th-place at 4-over par. Beginning on hole three, Johnson remained even until posting birdies on No. 14 and No. 16. The Nicholasville, Ky., native then took a stroke back, scoring on the par-five No. 18 with a birdie. After her 1-over performance for the opening round, Johnson stands at 3-over par on the second round after posting a double bogey on No. 4 and bogey on No. 14.

Senior Kristin Vincent enters the second day of action at 8-over par and in a tie for 51st. With a 78 in the first round, Vincent currently stands at 3-over par on the second round with three holes remaining. Both Vincent and Johnson resume play Tuesday on No. 16.

Sophomore Ashlee Rose registered a 79 in the opening round and rests at 7-over par through 12 holes of the second round. At 15-over par through 33 holes, senior Sara Hurwitch carded an 82 on the first round and enters the second round at 6-over par.

Rounding out Kentucky’s top five, freshman Ashleigh Albrecht posted a round-one 83 and begins her final six holes of the second round at 12-over par.

Tulane University leads the field at 3-over par with six holes to complete before the final round. Emma de Groot of Chattanooga stands as the top individual with a first-round 73 and 1-under par performance through 12 holes of the second round.

Co-hosting the event, the Wildcats and Kennesaw State welcome competitors from seven different conferences, including 10 Southeastern Conference squads. Top-25 participants include No. 6 Tennessee, No. 11 Georgia, No. 12 Virginia, No. 17 Florida, No. 18 LSU, No. 20 Vanderbilt, No. 23 South Carolina and No. 24 Ohio State.

The Kinderlou Forest Golf Club, designed by Davis Love III, opened in 2004 and has been tabbed as one of the nation’s top courses. Each year, the Kinderlou Forest Golf Club plays host to the Nationwide Tour’s South Georgia Classic.

Also competing are Kent State, Mississippi, Mississippi State, North Carolina, UTC, Tulane, Arkansas and Florida State.

Kentucky enters the Kinderlou Forest Challenge after an 11th-place finish at the Hurricane Invitational held Feb. 14-16 in Miami Lakes, Fla. The Wildcats recorded a 926 (310-303-313) during the 54-hole, 17-team tournament.

After the Kinderlou Forest Challenge, the Wildcats travel to New Orleans for the Tiger/Wave Classic hosted by LSU and Tulane.

Live stats for the Kinderlou Forest Challenge are available at golfstat.com. Visit UKathletics.com for more information on the Kinderlou Forest Challenge.

For complete coverage of the Kentucky women’s golf team, stay tuned to UKathletics.com.