Oct. 26, 2013

LEXINGTON, Ky. – With three top-five finishes under its belt already through three tournaments, the University of Kentucky men’s golf team will look to make it four-of-four when the Wildcats compete in the Invitational at The Ocean Course on Kiawah Island, S.C., Oct. 27-29.

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort has played host to the 2007 Senior PGA and 2012 PGA Championships and is only the fourth course to host each of the PGA of America’s major championships. Probably no other golf course in the world outside of the United Kingdom and Ireland is affected as much by the wind. Located on the eastern-most end of Kiawah Island, The Ocean Course has more seaside holes than any other course in the Northern Hemisphere.

“The chance to compete on The Ocean Course will be a great test for our guys,” said Kentucky head coach Brian Craig. “This is the type of championship course that will help a young player improve and I am looking forward to see how we handle the challenge. Our biggest goal this week is to show that we can play three solid tournament rounds. We have shown that our good rounds are quite good but need to improve on our consistency overall. The key will be to focus on what we can control: strategy, emotional control, attitude, etc., which in turn will bring about more consistency.”

The Wildcats have notched three top-five finishes in their first three tournaments of the season. Kentucky placed fifth in the season-opening tournament at the Northern Intercollegiate, third at the Wolf Run Invitational and fifth at the AutoTrader.com Collegiate Classic. UK has placed at least one individual in the top 10 in each of the first three tournaments.

The last time out for UK was at the AutoTrader.com Collegiate Classic where the Wildcats shot a final round score of 275, which ranks in a tie for the second-best team round under Craig. Senior Ben Stow led the way finishing tied for second at seven-under par. Stow’s final round of seven-under par, 65, ranked in a tie for second as the best individual round in the Craig era.

Kentucky’s lineup on Kiawah Island will be led by Stow, David Snyder, Stephen Powers, Cody Martin and Stephen Stallings. Harrison Greenberry will compete as an individual. Stallings, a freshman from Louisville, Ky., is making his first appearance in a collegiate tournament.

The course is a par-72 (36-36) layout with a total distance of 7,051 yards. The 54-hole stroke-play tournament will begin on Sunday at 7:50 a.m. with the first round of 18 holes. The second round continues Monday at 7:50 a.m. and concludes Tuesday with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. All times are Eastern.

Kentucky is one of 14 teams in the field featuring: No. 5 Georgia, No. 29 South Florida, No. 40 Florida, Charleston Southern, College of Charleston, Francis Marion, Georgia Southern, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Rice, South Alabama and Western Carolina.

Fans can follow the action with live scoring available at Golfstat.com. For more information on the University of Kentucky men’s golf team visit UKathletics.com and follow on Twitter at @UKmensgolf. The Wildcats begin spring competition at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate in Mobile, Ala., from Feb. 17-18.

The Ocean Course

Kiawah Island, S.C. Oct. 27-29

Par: 72 (36-36)

Yardage: 7,051

UK Lineup:

1. Ben Stow

2. David Snyder

3. Stephen Powers

4. Cody Martin

5. Stephen Stallings

Individual: Harrison Greenberry