March 6, 2012
USF Invitational Final Results
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky men’s golf team recorded a 1-over-par 289 in the final round of the USF Invitational on Tuesday to finish in third place, while junior Chase Parker carded an even-par 72 to finish in fourth, his second top-five finish of the year.
“This team has a big heart and is showing great signs of improvement,” UK head coach Brian Craig said. “We got off to a terrible start today but battled back to have an excellent finish. Chase Parker continued his good play with a fourth-place finish. The good news is we have a ton of room for improvement as we head into the middle of our spring schedule.”
Playing at the Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club (par 72, 7,153 yards), Kentucky finished with its third lowest 54-hole team score (868) of the year, and its lowest of the spring season. Kentucky’s team score of 868 was its lowest team score since shooting an 864 on Sept. 18 at the UK Bluegrass Fall Invitational at the University Club in Lexington, Ky.
Parker again led the way for the Wildcats, finishing in fourth overall at 3-under par, just two strokes off the lead. Parker had back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 6 and 7, but closed out his front nine with a birdie on No. 9. The junior went back to 2-over-par for his round with a bogey at No. 12, but rebounded once more with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 to finish with an even-par round of 72. Going back to Parker’s final round at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate two weeks ago, the Augusta, Ga., native is 8-under-par in his last four rounds of play.
Sophomores Cody Martin and Stephen Powers also shot even-par 72s on Tuesday, finishing in a tie for 19th and a tie for 24th, respectively.
Martin’s round got off to a shaky start with bogeys on three of his first six holes, but an eagle at the par-5 ninth hole got the Union, Ky., native back on track. Martin bogeyed No. 11 to move back to 2-over-par for his round, but birdied Nos. 13 and 15 to finish at even-par.
Powers also entered the ninth hole Tuesday at 3-over-par, but, just like Martin, eagled the ninth to make the turn at 1-over-par. Powers also bogeyed No. 11, but would come in with birdies on Nos. 16 and 18 to record an even-par round of 72.
Freshman David Snyder finished the tournament in a tie for 35th after shooting a 4-over-par 76 Tuesday. Snyder’s final 54-hole score was 222, 6-over-par.
Junior Joseph Barr had his best round of the tournament Tuesday, shooting a 1-over-par 73 to finish in a tie for 37th.
Kentucky will play again March 16-18 at the Schenkel Invitational at Forest Heights Country Club in Statesboro, Ga. The tournament will be Kentucky’s third of the spring season.
For all news and information on the Kentucky men’s golf team, follow the Wildcats on Twitter at “UKmensgolf” and go to UKathletics.com.
USF Invitational
Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club
Par 72 – 7,153 yards
Final Results
4. Chase Parker – 74, 67, 72 – 213 (-3)
T19. Cody Martin – 75, 71, 72 – 218 (+2)
T24. Stephen Powers – 74, 73, 72 – 219 (+3)
T35. David Snyder – 73, 73, 76 – 222 (+6)
T37. Joseph Barr – 74, 76, 73 – 223 (+7)
*T66. Matthew Anderson – 84, 72, 76 – 232 (+16)
3. KENTUCKY – 295, 284, 289 – 868 (+4)
