July 24, 2011

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Former University of Kentucky men’s golfer, and Paducah, Ky., native, Russ Cochran, fired back-to-back rounds of 5-under par to win the Senior Open Championship at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey, England on Sunday.

After opening the Senior Open Championship with an even-par round of 72, Cochran carded a 2-under par 70 in the second round and closed out the tournament with back-to-back rounds of 5-under par 67. Cochran finished the tournament at 12-under par, defeating Mark Calcavecchia, who finished in second place, by two strokes.

“Congratulations to Russ for his first major win on the Senior Tour,” UK head coach Brian Craig said. “Winning the Senior Open Championship is a well deserved accomplishment and a tribute to Russ’ persistence and determination. Russ is proof positive that you can achieve your dreams as a Kentucky Wildcat.”

Cochran, who had one of his son’s, Reed, serving as his caddie, entered the third round at Walton Heath trailing Calcavecchia by five strokes. The two golfers entered the final round tied though, and Cochran’s final round of 5-under par was enough to put him on top for his first win in a major.

As a Wildcat, Cochran was a First Team All-Southeastern Conference golfer in 1978 and 1979. Cochran turned pro in 1979 and earned his first tour victory in 1991 at the Centel Western Open when he came by from a five-stroke deficit to defeat Greg Norman.

For all Kentucky men’s golf news and updates, go to UKathletics.com and follow the Wildcats on Twitter at “UKmensgolf.”