April 18, 2010
LEXINGTON, Ky. — University of Kentucky men’s golf senior Ben Fuqua used a final round of 3-under-par 67, his finest round of the season, to post the best UK individual finish in five years at the Southeastern Conference Championship on Sunday. The Wildcats finished sixth overall as a team, its best team finish since finishing fourth in 2006.
Fuqua’s finish in the top six is the best for any Wildcat in the SEC Championship since Kentucky claimed the tournament title in 2005 behind J.B. Holmes’ third-place finish and Matt Kohn’s tie for fourth.
Fuqua (73-68-67—208) was a master on the course Sunday, carding six birdies in the final round. The native of Danville, Ky., started the day with four birdies on the first six holes, including three consecutive. The round of 67 is the lowest round of the season for Fuqua, who posted a 68 in the second round Saturday. Fuqua’s all-time collegiate-low round is 65, scored last season at the Mason Rudolph Intercollegiate. The UK veteran finished the tournament at 2-under-par.
Kentucky (296-276-285—857) finished sixth as a team, carding its best team finish since finishing fourth in 2006. The 54-hole score of 857 is the second-lowest tournament score in school history at the SEC Championship with the 2006 squad posting an 855 in the three-day event. UK scored a 603 in 1998, but the tournament was only 36 holes. The 857 total is also the second-lowest tournament score of the season for UK. The Wildcats finished the tournament at 17-over-par.
“We played our hearts out for the last 36 holes,” said head coach Brian Craig. “I could not be prouder of these guys. I am especially happy for Ben Fuqua. It was great to see him finish his career in a positive way.”
Freshman Chase Parker (73-68-75—216) and junior Brian Belden (76-70-71—217) finished in the top 26 at the tournament. Parker finished tied for 22nd with a final round of 5-over-par. The native of Augusta, Ga., was in the top 10 heading into the third round, sitting at 1-over-par for the tournament. The freshman finished the event at 6-over-par.
Belden followed an even-par round Saturday with a 1-over-par score Sunday to finish in a tie for 26th. The native of Emmaus, Pa., carded five birdies in the final round, including two of the final three holes to end the tournament at 7-over-par.
Jordan Blann (74-70-74—218) used a 4-over-par 74 in the final round to conclude the tournament at 8-over-par and tied for 32nd, while sophomore Mads Kristensen (80-73-73—226) finished tied for 51st at 16-over-par. Kristensen shot a 3-over-par 73 third round.
The team title was won by No. 18 Georgia (283-277-284—844) at 4-over-par by five strokes over No. 16 Florida (280-292-277—849) and No. 40 Ole Miss (288-284-277—849). The individual title was claimed Russell Henley of Georgia after he and South Carolina’s George Bryan IV finished 72 holes tied at 6-under-par 204. To break the tie, Henley and Bryan returned to No. 18. After each made par, they played No. 18 again with Henley sinking a 10-foot birdie putt to clinch the victory
