Sept. 17, 2011

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – A strong second-round team score of 3-under par propelled the University of Kentucky men’s golf team to the top of the leaderboard after the first day of the UK Bluegrass Fall Invitational on Saturday.

Played on the Big Blue Course (par 71, 6,988 yards) at the University Club of Kentucky, the UK men’s golf team rebounded from a first round score of 12-over par 296 to finish the second round with a 3-under par 281.

“I am proud of the way we bounced back today from a tough first round,” UK head coach Brian Craig said. “The afternoon round was a small glimpse of what this team is capable of doing. We need to keep our focus and come out Sunday ready to play well on a course set up that should be more demanding.”

Kentucky was led by sophomore Cody Martin who sits in third place after the first 36 holes. Martin, who earned a top-four finish last week at the Marshall Invitational, improved by seven strokes from his morning score with a 4-under par 67 during Saturday’s second round.

Junior Chase Parker and sophomore Matthew Anderson, who is playing as an individual, trail Martin by two strokes heading into Sunday’s final round and sit at 1-over par. Parker played consistent golf throughout the day, carding a 72 in the first round and an even-par 71 in the second round. Anderson recorded a 2-under par 69 in the first round, but finished his day with a 3-over par 74.

Saturday proved to be a promising day for two Wildcat freshmen. Will Bishop, a Lexington, Ky., native, is in a tie for 12th at 4-over par, while David Snyder is in a tie for 20th at 6-over par.

Juniors Joseph Barr and Mads Kristensen and sophomore Stephen Powers are in a tie for 27th at 8-over par. Barr and Powers are playing in UK’s five-man rotation this weekend, while Kristensen is playing as an individual.

Freshman Todd McDaniel fired an 11-over par 153, and junior Seth Blann finished with a 12-over par 154.

Dayton is in second place on the team leaderboard after day one at the UK Bluegrass Fall Invitational. The Flyers trail Kentucky by just three strokes. Dayton’s Andrew Steffensmeirer and Marshall’s Bosten Miller are atop the player’s leaderboard at 2-under par.

Play will continue Sunday at the University Club at 8:00 a.m. ET with nine-minute staggered tee times from holes No. 1 and No. 10. Anderson and Snyder will tee off from the first tee at 8:00 a.m. Kristensen and McDaniel will then tee off from the No. 1 tee at 8:09 a.m. and Blann will tee off from No. 10 at 8:18 a.m. Barr will begin play for the UK five-man rotation at 9:48 a.m. Following Barr will be Powers, Bishop, Parker and Martin, respectively, every nine minutes. Golfers will play 18 holes Sunday.

Kentucky shot an 876 at the UK Bluegrass Invitational in April of last season, finishing in second place behind Auburn. This is the fifth time Kentucky has hosted the UK Bluegrass Invitational, and the first time the tournament has been played in the fall. Kentucky will be looking to capture its second UK Bluegrass Invitational title Sunday. The Wildcats last won their home tournament in the spring of the 2008-09 season.

For all Kentucky men’s golf information, go to UKathletics.com. For all results and information concerning the UK Bluegrass Fall Invitational, please also go to the tournament central page.

UK Bluegrass Fall Invitational

University Club of Kentucky (Big Blue Course)

Par 71 – 6,988 yards

Day One Results (First and Second Rounds)

3. Cody Martin – 74, 67 – 141 (-1)
T5. Chase Parker – 72, 71 – 143 (+1)
T12. Will Bishop – 74, 72 – 146 (+4)
T27. Joseph Barr – 76, 74 – 150 (+8)
T27. Stephen Powers – 79, 71 – 150 (+8)
*T5. Matthew Anderson – 69, 74 – 143 (+1)
*T20. David Snyder – 70, 78 – 148 (+6)
*T27. Mads Kristensen – 74, 76 – 150 (+8)
*T48. Todd McDaniel – 75, 78 – 153 (+11)
*T56. Seth Blann – 76, 78 – 154 (+12)
1. KENTUCKY – 296, 281 – 577 (+9)