March 16, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky men’s golf team continued its hot play of late, carding a 2-under-par 286 on Friday in the first round of the Schenkel Invitational, and finds itself in a tie for sixth.
Led by sophomore Cody Martin, the Wildcats had four golfers record even or under-par rounds Friday, and have shot three straight rounds of 289 or better, going back to the second round of the USF Invitational. It is the first time the Cats have done that since April 10-11, 2010 when the Cats shot 285, 279, 285 at the UK Bluegrass Invitational at the University Club in Lexington, Ky.
“The boys played solid golf today,” UK head coach Brian Craig said. “We played the more difficult side (back nine) first, and we played quite well. We left a few shots out there on the last nine holes, but are in good position going into tomorrow’s round.”
Martin sits in a tie for 14th after shooting a 2-under-par 70 at Forest Heights Country Club (par 72, 6,962 yards) in Statesboro, Ga. Martin stayed even keeled for much of his round. Starting on the 10th tee, Martin made the turn at 2-under-par after recording birdies on Nos. 11 and 17. Martin moved back to 1-under-par after a bogey on No. 4, but birdied No. 9, his final hole of the day, to move back to 2-under par.
Junior Joseph Barr, sophomore Stephen Powers and freshman David Snyder each sit in a tie for 24th after shooting even-par rounds of 72.
Barr, who also started his round on the back nine along with each of the Wildcats, double-bogeyed his first hole, but still went out with a 1-under-par 35 after birdies on Nos. 12, 17 and 18. Barr went back to even par after a bogey on No. 6.
Powers, like Martin, was very even keeled for much of his round, parring 16 holes, carding one bogey and one birdie.
Snyder went out in 37 with two bogeys and a birdie on his opening nine, but came in with two birdies and a bogey to finish at even par.
Junior Chase Parker, who is second on the team in stroke average (73.43), carded a 1-over-par 73 on Friday. Parker was at 3-over entering the par-5 seventh, but recorded an eagle to get back to 1-over-par for the round.
Freshman Will Bishop, who is playing this week as an individual, shot a 5-over-par 77 and sits in a tie for 66th.
Kentucky is joined in the 14-team Schenkel Invitational field by host-school Georgia Southern, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Minnesota, Ole Miss, N.C. State, North Florida, Notre Dame, South Carolina, UAB, Vanderbilt and Virginia.
Alabama leads the field heading into Saturday’s second round after carding a tournament record 20-under-par (268). Alabama broke the previous record of 18-under-par set by Georgia in 2000.
The tournament will continue Saturday with the second round beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. Parker will begin Kentucky’s round off the first tee at 9:45 a.m. Snyder, Barr, Powers and Martin will then follow in nine-minute intervals. Bishop will tee off from No. 10 at 10:39 a.m.
Fans wishing to follow along with results as they come into the clubhouse can access live results at Golfstat.com.
For all Kentucky men’s golf news and information, including recaps and results from each round of the Schenkel Invitational, follow the Cats on Twitter at “KentuckyGolf” and go to UKathletics.com.
Schenkel Invitational
Forest Heights Country Club
Par 72 – 6,962 yards
Round One Results
T14. Cody Martin – 70 – 70 (-2)
T24. Joseph Barr – 72 – 72 (E)
T24. Stephen Powers – 72 – 72 (E)
T24. David Snyder – 72 – 72 (E)
T36. Chase Parker – 73 – 73 (+1)
*T66. Will Bishop – 77 – 77 (+5)
T6. KENTUCKY – 286 – 286 (-2)
