March 27, 2011

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Behind a impressive day from junior Mads Kristensen, where he scored a team-best mark of 2-over-par 73, the University of Kentucky men’s golf team wrapped up the first day of competition at the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate  in 13th on Sunday.

Kentucky earned a team score of 17-over-par 301 in the opening round, sitting five strokes ahead of College of Charleston and North Carolina, who are tied for last. The second round of the 54-hole event will be played Monday, while the final round is on Tuesday.

Kristensen leads the Wildcats after day one with a solid mark of 2-over-par. The native of Denmark earned three birdies in the first round and sits tied for 39th. Sophomore Chase Parker is second on the UK team after a 4-over-par 75, putting him tied for 45th after the first 18 holes.

Freshmen Cody Martin and Stephen Powers are tied for 52nd and tied for 58th, respectively. Both Martin and Powers earned three birdies Sunday with Martin scoring a 5-over-par 76, while Powers earned a 6-over-par 77.

Senior Brian Belden concludes the UK rotation, sitting in 58th with a 13-over-par 84.

Wake Forest is atop the team leaderboard at 4-under-par, while Auburn’s Blayne Barber, Wake Forest’s Lee Bedford and North Carolina State’s Mitchell Sutton are at the top individual at 4-under-par.

Live scores from all three rounds will be available at Golfstat.com. For more information on the Kentucky men’s golf team, visit UKathletics.com or follow “UKmensgolf” on Twitter.

13. Kentucky        301
T39. Mads Kristensen    73
T45. Chase Parker    75
T52. Cody Martin    76
T58. Stephen Powers    77
74. Brian Belden    84