Oct. 9, 2010

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky men’s golf team is in a two-way tie for sixth after the first 18 holes at the Philadelphia Big 5 Invitational with two players, sophomore Joseph Barr and senior Brian Belden, sitting in the top 10. The 36-hole, two-day event is being played at Plymouth Country Club in Philadelphia, Pa.

As a team, the Wildcats scored an opening round of 13-over-par 293 and are tied on the leaderboard with Yale. Furman is at the top of the leaderboard at 3-over-par, followed by Princeton at 9-over-par and Villanova and Campbell, which are each tied for third at 11-over-par. St. John’s is in fifth at 12-over-par.

Individually, Kentucky was led by Barr and Belden, who both sit in the top 10 after the first day. Barr, a native of Versailles, Ky., scored an even-par score of 70 in the first round, sitting tied for fourth. Barr scored two birdies and two bogeys in the round.

Belden also is in the top 10, sitting in a tie for eighth at 1-over-par. The native of Emmaus, Pa., carded three birdies in the round, all on the back nine to post the top-10 score. The three birdies for Belden was a team high for Kentucky on Saturday.

Belden is followed by sophomore Chase Parker and freshman Stephen Powers, who both scored a 6-over-par 76 and sit in a tie for 54th. Sophomore Seth Blann and freshman Cody Martin, who is playing at the tournament as an individual, are in a tie for 83rd after scoring a 9-over-par 79.

The final round will be played Sunday. Complete results can be found at www.golfstat.com.