April 9, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky men’s golf team sits in second place after posting an 18-hole team score of 6-over-par 290 in the opening round of play in the UK Bluegrass Invitational at the University Club of Kentucky on Saturday.
Play was suspended halfway through the second round due to darkness after a two-hour rain delay stopped play in the middle of the opening round. Teams and individuals will resume the second round Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. ET by shotgun start, before continuing play into the final round. No scores from the second round will be collected or turned in until after completion Sunday morning.
Kentucky received several strong performances in the opening round with sophomore Chase Parker earning a team-best score of 2-under-par 69 to sit tied for second. The native of Augusta, Ga., scored five birdies in the opening round, shooting 1-under-par on both the front and the back nine. The score of 69 tied the lowest mark of the year for Parker.
Junior Mads Kristensen followed Parker with a 2-over-par 73. The native of Denmark had four birdies in the opening round and sits tied for 17th. Kristensen was solid on the front-nine with a score of 2-under-par 33, but couldn’t keep the momentum going on the final nine holes, posting a 4-over-par 40.
Freshmen Stephen Powers and Cody Martin each finished the first round at 3-over-par 74. Powers, a native of Naperville, Ill., had one birdie and one eagle on the day. The impressive eagle came at the par-5 13th. Martin was also solid for the Wildcats, scoring one birdie and 14 pars. Both players are tied for 26th.
Sophomore Seth Blann concludes the Kentucky rotation with a 6-over-par 77. The native of Bowling Green, Ky., had two birdies in the first round and was solid on the front nine with a score of 2-over-par 37.
Senior Brian Belden, junior Chase Carpenter and freshman Matthew Anderson are playing in the tournament as individuals for UK. Belden leads the group of individuals after an even-par 71 in the first round to sit tied for seventh. Carpenter scored a 3-over-par 74 in the first 18 holes and is tied for 26th, while Anderson is tied for 74th after a 9-over-par 80.
Southeastern Conference foe Auburn leads the 18-team field after the first day with a 3-over-par 287. Marshall and Toledo are tied for third with a 7-over-par 291. Auburn’s Dominic Bozzelli is atop the player leaderboard with a first-round score of 4-under-par 67, while two players are tied for second and three tied for fourth.
For more information on the 2011 UK Bluegrass Invitational, visit the tournament central page at UKathletics.com.
