April 13, 2014
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Playing through extremely windy conditions during the final round on Sunday at the University Club, the University of Kentucky men’s golf team won the team title with a score of 12-under par, 852. The team championship marks the first since Kentucky won the Bluegrass Invitational in September 2011.
This weekend marked the sixth time UK has hosted the Bluegrass Invitational and the Wildcats have now won the event three times. The Wildcats carded a team score of 1-over par, 289, on the final round Sunday. Auburn (-8), Cincinnati (+2), Eastern Kentucky (+18) and Bradley (+25) completed the top five. Auburn’s Matt Gilchrest was the top individual, finishing with a 9-under par, 207.
Rounding out the rest of the team standings were Valparaiso (+31), Tennessee Tech (+31), Northern Kentucky (+32), Lipscomb (+35), Dayton (+36), SIU Edwardsville (+40), Morehead State (+55) and Wright State (+56).
“It was an extremely windy and difficult day today and overall we handled it beautifully,” said Kentucky head coach Brian Craig. “It’s always nice to get a win particularly when you defend your own turf at your home event. I’m particularly happy for our seniors Ben (Stow), Cody (Martin) and Stephen (Powers), as this win has been a long time coming for them. This gives us great momentum heading into the SEC Championship. We need a good 10 days of practice and then go down to Seaside and see if we can continue to improve.”
Four of the five Wildcats in the lineup placed in the top 10, led by senior Ben Stow who tied for second place. The Salisbury, England, native registered a 5-under par, 211 (69-70-72) for the tournament. Playing in the final group, he scored an even par, 72, in the final round. The top-five finish is his team-leading fourth of the season and he now has a first and second place finish in the team’s last two events.
Finishing just a stroke back of Stow was junior David Snyder at 4-under par, 212 (71-70-71). Snyder recorded his third straight under par round with a 1-under par, 71, on Sunday. He led all players with 18 birdies over the weekend. The fourth place finish marks a season best and is his third top 10 placing of the season.
Senior Cody Martin registered his second top 10 finish of the season by placing sixth with a final score of 2-under par, 214 (70-71-73). Martin turned in a score of 1-over par, 73, during the final round. His even par scoring on Par 3’s led all players for the tournament.
The fourth top 10 finisher was senior Stephen Powers who tied for seventh at 1-under par, 215 (70-72-73). Powers played a 1-over par, 73, in the final round. Junior Will Bishop carded a final round score of 7-over par, 79, and finished the tournament tied for 53rd with a three-day score of 13-over par, 229 (73-77-79).
The four Wildcats playing as individuals were led by sophomore Harrison Greenberry and freshman Stephen Stallings who each finished tied for 27th at 8-over par, 224. Greenberry scored a 7-over par, 79, on Sunday, while Stallings posted a 5-under par, 77. Freshman Hager Collins tied for 58th at 14-over par, 230 (76-77-77). Sophomore Todd McDaniel finished tied for 69th at 21-over par, 237 (80-78-79).
Up Next:
UK will next compete in the SEC Championships in St. Simons Island, Ga., from April 25-27. For more information on the University of Kentucky men’s golf team please visit UKathletics.com and follow on Twitter @UKmensgolf.
University Club (Big Blue Course)
Lexington, Ky. – April 12-13
Par: 72 (36-36)
Yardage: 6,992 (3,385-3,607)
Final Results:
1. Kentucky: 280-283-289=852 (-12)
T2. Ben Stow: 69-70-72=211 (-5)
T4. David Snyder: 71-70-71=212 (-4)
6. Cody Martin: 70-71-73=214 (-2)
T7. Stephen Powers: 70-72-73=215 (-1)
T53. Will Bishop: 73-77-79=229 (+13)
*T27. Harrison Greenberry: 74-71-79=224 (+8)
*T27. Stephen Stallings: 70-77-77=224 (+8)
*T58. Hager Collins: 76-77-77=230 (+14)
*T69. Todd McDaniel: 80-78-79=237 (+21)
* Playing as individuals
