Feb. 19, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Coming off a fall season that saw the University of Kentucky men’s golf team record three top-five team finishes, including a first-place finish at the UK Bluegrass Fall Invitational, the Wildcats are now set to begin the spring season at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate in Mobile, Ala., on Monday.
“We are excited and ready to start the spring semester, especially after having such good practice weather for the past month,” UK head coach Brian Craig said. “It is a new year and a great time for us to show improvement. This is the best group of guys I have coached and I look forward to watching them improve each week this spring.”
Hosted by the University of South Alabama, the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate, entering its fifth year, is being held at the Magnolia Grove Crossings Golf Course (par 72, 7,160 yards). In addition to the Wildcats, 14 other schools will be competing in the tournament, including Akron, Arkansas State, Illinois, Illinois State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Memphis, Mercer, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, South Alabama, Southern Mississippi, Toledo, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest.
The tournament will begin with 36 holes Monday by shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. ET, and conclude with 18 holes Tuesday beginning at 9 a.m. with players starting on holes 1 and 10.
Competing for Kentucky this week will be sophomores Cody Martin and Stephen Powers, juniors Chase Parker and Joseph Barr, and freshman David Snyder. Martin will tee off from the 8th tee and Powers will tee off from the 9th. Parker and Barr’s groups will each tee off from the 10th tee, while Snyder will begin play on No. 11. Live scoring for the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate will be available at Golfstat.com.
For the first time, the University of South Alabama Individual Tournament will be running at the same time as the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate. The USA Individual Tournament will be held at the Magnolia Grove Falls Golf Course (par 72, 7,051 yards), with the first round beginning Monday morning, and the second round teeing off Tuesday.
UK will have five golfers competing in the individual event, including sophomore Matthew Anderson, freshman Will Bishop, junior Seth Blann, senior Mads Kristensen and freshman Todd McDaniel.
Kentucky has played at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate in each of the past two seasons. Last year, the Wildcats finished second with a strong final round team score of 279, which tied the eighth best team round in the Brian Craig era. Kentucky’s final round 279 also tied the lowest team round in tournament history.
Parker led the Wildcats at the event last season, finishing in a tie for second individually with a final score of 4-under-par (212). Martin, who played in the tournament as an individual, finished in a tie for fourth at 1-over-par (217).
Middle Tennessee took the 2011 team championship with a final score of 1-under-par, while Jason Millard of Middle Tennessee won the individual title with an impressive final score of 11-under par (205). Middle Tennessee’s 54-hole team score and Millard’s 54-hole individual score were both the lowest in tournament history.
Kentucky finished in the top five three times during the 2011 fall season, highlighted by its team victory at the UK Bluegrass Fall Invitational. Martin led the Wildcats with a team-best stroke average of 72.60. The Union, Ky., native had his best outing at the UK Bluegrass Fall Invitational, finishing second. Barr finished the fall with the second best stroke average on the team (73.33), and finished in a tie for third at the Bearcat Invitational along with Parker. Barr, Martin, Parker and Powers each played in all 15 rounds with the team.
For all Kentucky men’s golf news and information, including results from the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate and USA Individual Tournament, follow the team on Twitter at “UKmensgolf” and go to UKathletics.com.
Mobile Bay Intercollegiate
Magnolia Grove Crossings Golf Course
Par 72 – 7,160 yards
Lineup
Cody Martin
Stephen Powers
Joseph Barr
Chase Parker
David Snyder
USA Individual Tournament
Magnolia Grove Falls Golf Course
Par 72 – 7,051 yards
Matthew Anderson
Will Bishop
Seth Blann
Mads Kristensen
Todd McDaniel
