Oct. 3, 2010

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky men’s golf senior Brian Belden posted a 1-over-par 73 in the final round, scoring his first top-15 finish of the season at the Gary Koch Intercollegiate on Sunday. The 54-hole, two-day event was played at Old Memorial Golf Club in Tampa, Fla., at par 72.

Belden, a native of Emmaus, Pa., started the tournament with a 2-under-par 70 in the opening round and followed with 1-over-par 73s in the next two rounds to card the top-15 finish. The senior posted a total of 12 birdies at the tournament, finishing with a 54-hole score of even-par 216.

Sophomore Chase Parker followed Belden by finishing in a tie for 31st at 6-over-par 222. Parker carded a 1-under-par 71 in the final round Sunday to jump up 10 spots on the leaderboard. The native of Augusta, Ga., scored a 78 in the opening round followed by a 1-over-par 73 in the second round.

Sophomores Seth Blann and Joseph Barr, and freshman Cody Martin wrap up the UK rotation. Blann ended the tournament in a tie for 44th at 11-over-par 227, while Barr was tied for 57th at 18-over-par 234. Martin scored his best round of the weekend Sunday with a 4-over-par 76, finishing in 62nd at 21-over-par 237. Junior Chase Carpenter, playing in the tournament as an individual, finished in a tie for 65th at 30-over-par 246.

Virginia took home the team title with a 54-hole score of 15-under-par 849. Auburn, who was co-hosting the tournament with Kentucky, finished second at 6-under-par 858, while North Florida finished third at 2-over-par 866. UK finished in 11th with a score of 30-over-par 894.

The individual champion was Ben Kohles of Virginia, who shot a 9-under-par 207. Kohles was followed by Brooks Koepka of Florida State, who was one stroke off the lead at 8-under-par.

Kentucky will return to action on Oct. 9-10 at the Philadelphia Big Five Invitational.