Seven Finish in Top 25 to Lead Wildcats to Third at Wolf Run

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. – All five starters and both of the individual competitors finished in the top 25 on the individual leaderboard to lead the Kentucky men’s golf team to a third place finish in its season-opening weekend of play at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate on Sunday. Senior Stephen Stallings and junior Cooper Musselman were UK’s top-two finishers tying for 11th with 2-over par scores for the combined 36-hole event. Stallings and junior Evan Cox were UK’s low rounds of the day as they each fired rounds of 1-under 70s. 

“The boys played solid golf this week,” UK coach Brian Craig said. “Unfortunately we only got to play 36 holes due to rain, but I am proud of their efforts. This is a long season, and we need to get better, but I love this team and think we have a super high ceiling. Also, a big congratulations to Fred Allen Meyer for his brilliant first round after the tough road he has had with injuries. That was wonderful to see and just the beginning of his full-fledged comeback.”

About the lineup:

Stallings birdied three of the final five holes on the front nine to jumpstart his stellar final round. He added birdies on the par-five 10th and the par-five 17th to close out his round. It marked the first under-par score of the season for UK’s senior from Louisville, Kentucky. It was the eighth top-20 finish of his career.

Musselman also posted a top-20 finish with his 11th place showing at Wolf Run. He fired an even-par 71 for the day with three birdies including two on the front nine. Musselman, who was second on the team in par or better rounds for the season a year ago, posted the first of his junior campaign with today’s score. 

Cox, playing as an individual, matched Stallings with a round of 70 for the team’s low round. He also took home honors as the lone UK player to register an eagle on the weekend when he was able to post a two on the par-four No. 12. Cox finished the tournament in a tie for 18th overall. 

UK’s day one leader, sophomore Fred Allen Meyer logged a round of 76 on Sunday. He finished in 14th overall for his first-ever top-20 finish as a collegiate player. Meyer recorded two birdies on the day including opening his round with a three on the par-four No. 1. 

Sophomore Lukas Euler matched Cox’s finish as he came in at No. 18 on the individual leaderboard. It marked the third top-20 finish of his young career. Euler logged a round of 74 to go with the 72 score he posted in the opening round. 

Junior Tyler “Chip” McDaniel rounded out the team’s starting five with a 23rd place showing in his season debut. McDaniel was one of UK’s biggest movers on the leaderboard as he improved 11 spots following a final round score of 72. McDaniel fired a 2-under 34 on the back nine with birdies on 10th and 18th. 

Sophomore Fadhli Soetarso matched McDaniel with a tie for 23rd on the individual leaderboard. Soetarso, playing as an individual, made his first career appearance for the Wildcats this weekend and did not disappoint with the top-25 finish. He fired a round of 73, one stroke better than his opening round. 

The Tournament Field:

Kentucky earned its first top-three finish of the season with a total score of 7-over par, just one stroke shy of second-place finisher Purdue. Illinois took home the tournament crown after an impressive 11-under round on day two. UCF and North Texas tied for fourth to round out the top five with total scores of 17-over par. 

Up Next for the Wildcats:

Kentucky returns to action Sept. 26-27 for a 54-hole event in nearby Cincinnati, Ohio. The Wildcats will be among the field for the Cincinnati Intercollegiate on the Coldstream Country Club course. The teams will play 36 holes to begin the two-day tournament and finish with 18 on Sept. 27.

Wolf Run Golf Club

Zionsville, Ind.

Sept. 10-11

Par: 71

Yardage: 7,155

3 – Kentucky (288, 287, 575: +7)

T-11 – Cooper Musselman (73, 71, 144: +2)

T-11 – Stephen Stallings Jr. (74, 70, 144: +2)

T-14 – Fred Allen Meyer (69, 76 145: +3)

T-18 – Lukas Euler (72, 74, 146: +4)

*T-18 – Evan Cox (76, 70, 146: +4)

*T-23 – Fadhli Soetarso (74, 73, 147: +5)

T-23 – Chip McDaniel (75, 72, 147: +5)

For the latest on the Kentucky men’s golf team, follow @UKMensGolf on Twitter and on the web at UKathletics.com.