April 18, 2013
ST. SIMMONS ISLAND, Ga. – The University of Kentucky men’s golf team travels to St. Simmons Island, Ga., to compete in the 2013 Southeastern Conference Championship beginning on Friday. The three-day 54-hole tournament will be played at the Seaside Course, which has a par-70, 6,657 yard layout.
This marks the 11th time in 13 seasons where the Seaside Course has played host to the SEC Championships. The Wildcats won the event on the Seaside Course in 2005.
“The SEC Championship is the best conference tournament in all of Division I golf,” head coach Brian Craig said. “It does not get any better than the Sea Island Golf Club and the level of competition that we will face this week. We look forward to the challenge and giving our best effort this week.”
Representing the Wildcats this weekend will be juniors Stephen Powers and Ben Stow, senior Chase Parker, sophomore Will Bishop and junior Cody Martin.
Powers led Kentucky with four top-10 finishes on the year, including three in the Cats’ six tournaments during the spring. The Naperville, Ill., native finished tied for sixth at the Saint Mary’s, USF and Tiger Invitationals, while placing tied for fifth at the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate.
Stow charted the low stroke average of the spring for UK at 73.83. The Salisbury, England native recorded three top-20 finishes, including a career best 1-under-par, 215 at the Schenkel Invitational, tying for ninth.
Parker had two top-20 finishes on the year, with his best performance coming at the Jack Nicklaus Invitational where he placed tied for sixth. Bishop has also placed in the top-20 twice, included an individual championship at the Cabo Collegiate, where he shot 2-under-par. Martin has three top-20 finishes on the year.
UK finished seventh at last season’s SEC Championships, shooting 26-over par as Powers and senior Joseph Barr finished tied for 19th in the tournament at 4-over-par. Alabama won the event at 12-under-par.
This weekend will feature nine teams in the top-25, including No. 2 Alabama, No. 9 Florida, No. 13 Georgia, No. 14 Arkansas, No. 19 Auburn, No. 21 Texas A&M, No. 23 Tennessee and No. 25 Mississippi State. Rounding out the field is South Carolina, Missouri, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss.
Kentucky will tee off on Friday alongside Ole Miss at 8:20 a.m. ET from hole No. 10. The three-day event will continue with a second round on Saturday and the final round scheduled for Sunday.
Live stats will be available at www.golfstat.com. For more information on the University of Kentucky men’s golf team please visit UKathletics.com and follow on twitter @UKMensGolf.
2013 SEC Men’s Golf Championship
St. Simmons Island, Ga. – April 19-21
Sea Island Golf Club – Seaside Course
Par: 70 – Yardage: 6,657
Kentucky Lineup
Stephen Powers
Ben Stow
Chase Parker
Will Bishop
Cody Martin
