Wildcats Card Best Tournament Score in Brian Craig Era

STATESBORO, Ga. – For the third consecutive day a different Kentucky men’s golfer fired the low round as the Wildcats not only ascended to a tie for third to cap the final day of the Schenkel Invitational, but they made history in the process. Kentucky’s 54-hole score of 839 is the best score in head coach Brian Craig’s tenure and it also ranks among the top-10 scores all-time in the history of the Schenkel Invitational. 

Senior David Snyder was today’s individual leader with a season-low 4-under par, 68. He moved up 11 spots on the individual leaderboard to finish in a tie for 21st overall. Sophomore Cooper Musselman paced the Cats on the opening day, while junior Stephen Stallings was the low scorer on day two. Both Musselman and Stallings finished the tournament among the top-15 individual players. 

The 54-hole score of 839 bested the Craig era top mark of 843 which was set at the Gary Koch Invitational in 2005-06. 

What Head Coach Brian Craig is saying:

“These boys are coming together. We are close, real close. I love the way we bounced back after slow starts each day. David Snyder was huge today with a 32 on the back nine and Chip McDaniel showed tremendous grit after being four over early in the round. We just need to keep focusing on what we can control and stay patient.”

About the lineup:

Snyder saved the best round of his senior campaign for the final 18 holes of the Schenkel Invitational. He moved up 11 spots on the individual leaderboard and was the biggest riser of the day for the Wildcats. 

His 4-under par round was highlighted by five birdies with four of them coming on the back nine. Snyder carded a 32 over the final nine holes of action including a 1-under score on the tournament’s final hole of play. 

Musselman led the Wildcats on the individual leaderboard for the second-consecutive tournament. He was under par for the third-consecutive round with a 2-under, 70. He finished the tournament with an 8-under score. Musselman’s damage was made on the front nine with five birdies during the opening nine holes of play. He fended off a bogey on No. 11 and scored a par the rest of the way to conclude the week in a tie for 10th overall. 

Stallings who made the biggest push of the tournament on day with a career-low round of 65 followed that performance with a round of 69 today. Five birdies highlighted his day and he matched Snyder with an under-par score on the final hole. He earned his fourth top-20 finish of the season with a tie for 15th this week. 

Tyler ‘Chip’ McDaniel concluded the week with a par or better score during all three rounds. He now has amassed 15 total rounds of par or better for the season. That mark is tops on the team. McDaniel scored an even-par, 72, in today’s round. He was 4-over through his first four holes before charting a four-under score the rest of the way. The highlight of his round was an eagle on the par-five No. 12. McDaniel capped the week in a tie for 34th.

Freshman Jalen Ledger posted a 1-over par, 73, on the final 18 holes. He finished the tournament at just 2-over par for an impressive opening tournament of the spring campaign. Classmate Lukas Euler, playing as an individual, fired his low-round of the tournament with a 72 on Sunday. 

The Tournament Field:

No. 15 Vanderbilt took home the tournament crown as the Commodores combined for a 41-under par score. Vanderbilt shot a Sunday-low round of 19-under par to finish 10 strokes ahead of second-place finisher in 10th-ranked Wake Forest. 

Kentucky and NC State tied for third place honors. The Wildcats were 9-under par for the final round, while the Wolfpack made a charge up the leaderboard behind a 16-under par score over the final 18 holes. 

Up Next for the Wildcats: 

Kentucky will conclude regular-season competition April 3-5 at the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate in Awendaw, S.C. The three-day, 54-hole tournament will be UK’s final tune-up before the SEC Championships April 15-17.

Forest Heights Country Club

Statesboro, Ga. 

March 18-20

Par: 72

Yardage: 6,962 

T-3 – Kentucky (283, 277, 279, 839; -25)

T10 – Cooper Musselman (68, 70, 70, 208; -8)

T15 – Stephen Stallings (75, 65, 69, 209; -7)

T21 – David Snyder (71, 72, 68, 211, -5)

T34 – Chip McDaniel (71, 70, 72, 213, -3)

T54 – Jalen Ledger (73, 72, 73, 218, +2)

*T77 – Lukas Euler (77, 76, 72, 225, +9)