July 12, 2010
SAVANNAH, Ga. — Riding momentum from his successful freshman season at Kentucky, sophomore Chase Parker has continued his strong play, firing a course-record 7-under-par 65 to finish second in the Georgia State Amateur Championship at The Landings Club Deer Creek Course on Sunday.
Parker (77-71-71-65–284), a native of Augusta, Ga., played brilliant golf in the final round to card a new competitive-course record of 65. The 7-under-par score put the UK golfer one-stroke behind fellow Augusta native Lee Knox, with Knox having one hole to play. Knox would par the final hole to secure the championship, leaving Parker with the runner-up title. The UK star put together an unblemished card, recording a par score or better on every hole in the final round, posting seven birdies – three on the front and four on the back – on the historic day.
Parker started the event with a 5-over-par 77 before finding his swing and carding three consecutive under-par rounds. Parker scored 1-under-par 71s in the second and third rounds to remain in contention heading into the final day of the tournament. Parker posted a total of 37 pars, 18 birdies and two eagles for the tournament. The sophomore was impressive on the four par-five holes, scoring 7-under-par the entire tournament on par fives.
Parker had one of the best freshman seasons in school history in 2009-10, playing in 10 events with a team-low season-stroke average of 74.41. Parker, who finished tied for 14th at the Hummingbird Intercollegiate for his best finish of the year, played in the last seven events for Kentucky, including an appearance at the SEC Championships.
At the SEC Championships, Parker posted arguably his best performance of the year. The freshman scored his best round of the season with a 2-under-par 68 in the second round and ended the tournament with a 54-hole season-low score of 216. Parker finished the championships tied for 22nd, the second-best UK finish.
Current and Former UK Golfers Dominate the Leaderboard at the Lexington City Championships
Former UK golfers Derek Oldham and Ben Fuqua battled through three playoff holes before Oldham pulled away for the victory, leaving Fuqua in second place at the Lexington City Championships on Sunday. Sophomore Joseph Barr finished at 9-under-par to tie for fourth.
Oldham and Fuqua, who were both seniors during the 2009-10 season, ended the 72-hole event tied at 12-under-par, forcing a playoff. Oldham eventually defeated Fuqua on the third playoff hole to win the tournament. Behind Oldham (67-68-69–204), Fuqua (70-67-67–204) finished second and Barr (70-69-68—207) finished tied for fourth.
The Lexington City Championship was played at three different Lexington golf courses over the stretch of four days. The event is for males who reside in Fayette County or have a membership to a Fayette County Country golf club. The 72-hole tournament was played at Tates Creek Country Club on Thursday, the Gay Brewer Jr. Course at Picadome on Saturday and the final round Sunday at the Kearney Hills Golf Links. The event was originally scheduled to run July 8 and ran through July 11 at four different courses but the second round at Lakeside Golf Course was rained out.
Former UK Player Jordan Blann wins First Professional Event in Georgetown
Former University of Kentucky men’s golf star Jordan Blann, a senior during the 2009-10 season, starting his professional career in style, finishing first at the Cherry Blossom Invitational at Cherry Blossom Golf and Country Club in Georgetown, Ky., over the weekend.
Blann (67-65-68–200), a native of Bowling Green, Ky., finished the three-day event with a 16-under-par score of 200. A two-time Kentucky State Amateur Champion, Blann posted a five-under-par 67 in the opening round followed by an impressive 7-under-par 65 in the second round to climb into contention. The former UK star shot a 4-under-par 68 in the final round to end the event one-stroke better then Brandon Brown (69-65-67–201).
The victory is the first professional win of Blann’s young career. Earlier this summer, Blann won his second consecutive Kentucky State Amateur Championship. In his senior season with Kentucky, Blann played in all 11 events, posting two top-10 finishes and five top-20 finishes. Blann scored a season stroke average of 74.59 and carded the lowest round of the year by any Wildcat with his 5-under-par 66 at the UK Bluegrass Invitational in April.
