Oct. 2, 2010

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky men’s golf senior Brian Belden scored a 2-under-par 70 in the opening round and followed that performance with a 1-over-par 73 in the second round to sit tied for 15th after day one at the Gary Koch Intercollegiate on Saturday. The tournament is being played at Old Memorial Golf Club in Tampa, Fla., at par 72.

Belden, a native of Emmaus, Pa., sits at 1-under-par for the tournament heading into the final round of play Sunday. The senior posted nine birdies in the first two rounds combined, eighth most at the tournament.

Sophomores Seth Blann and Chase Parker both sit in the top 50. Blann, a native of Bowling Green, Ky., is in a tie for 36th with a 36-hole total of 6-over-par 150. Blann carded a 2-over-par 74 in the first round and a 4-over-par 76 in the second.

Parker sits tied for 41st, scoring a 7-over-par 151 after the first two rounds. A native of Augusta, Ga., who was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team last season, shot a 1-over-par 73 in the second round to jump into the top 50.

Sophomore Joseph Barr and freshman Cody Martin wrap up the UK rotation. Barr is tied for 56th with an 11-over-par 155, while Martin is in 64th with a two-round total score of 17-over-par 161. Junior Chase Carpenter, who is playing in the tournament as an individual, is in 65th at 18-over-par 162.

Virginia holds the overall team lead at the event at 20-under-par 556. Florida State and Auburn are tied for second at 4-under-par 572. Ben Kohles of Virginia leads the race for the individual title at 12-under-par, followed by Jack Fields of North Carolina at 9-under-par and Brooks Koepka of Florida Sate at 7-under-par.

As a team, the Wildcats are in 11th with a 36-hole total of 32-over-par 608.

The third round will be played Sunday, starting at 7:50 a.m. ET.