Oct. 27, 2013
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Four Wildcats are sitting in the top 15 after one day at the Invitational at The Ocean Course to put the University of Kentucky men’s golf in first place by three strokes at even-par, 288.
Rounding out the top five after Kentucky is South Florida at three-over par, South Alabama at six-over par and Charleston Southern and Georgia at nine-over par.
The rest of the team standings are filled out with Florida (+12), Notre Dame (+13), Georgia Southern (+14), Western Carolina (+16), Michigan (+17), College of Charleston (+18), Francis Marion (+22), Rice (+23) and Michigan State (+24).
“You can’t win a tournament on the first day, but you can lose one,” said Kentucky head coach Brian Craig. “I am real proud of the boys for a great effort today. We have put ourselves in a good position but have a long, long ways to go. This is a big man’s course and we need to stay focused on what we can control and keep executing with confidence.”
Kentucky was led by senior Cody Martin’s two-under par, 70 on Sunday afternoon to put him in a tie for fourth place. For the day, Martin recorded four birdies and an eagle en route to a sub-par round.
Sitting in a tie for eighth place is senior Ben Stow after an even-par, 72 round of 18 holes. Stow struggled out of the gate by posting four bogeys on the front nine, but regrouped to birdie four of his last five holes to end the afternoon.
Three Wildcats recorded a one-over par, 73, including freshman Stephen Stallings who is making his first appearance in a collegiate tournament. Stallings was joined by junior David Snyder and sophomore Harrison Greenberry, who is playing as an individual, at one-over par. The trio is tied for 13th after one round.
Rounding out the UK competitors was senior Stephen Powers who registered a two-over par, 74. Powers is tied for 20th.
Teams return to the course for second round action Monday morning at 7:50 a.m. ET.
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. Located on the eastern-most end of Kiawah Island, The Ocean Course has more seaside holes than any other course in the Northern Hemisphere.
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
First Round Results
1. Kentucky: 288 (E)
T4. Cody Martin: 70 (-2)
T8. Ben Stow: 72 (E)
T13. David Snyder: 73 (+1)
T13. Stephen Stallings: 73 (+1)
T20. Stephen Powers: 74 (+2)
T13. *Harrison Greenberry: 73 (+1)
