Wildcats Resume Action at Bearcat Invitational

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky men’s golf team is back in action on Monday after finishing in third place in its last event at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate. This week’s challenge presents itself at Coldstream Country Club in Cincinnati, Ohio, host of the 2016 Bearcat Invitational. 

What Head Coach Brian Craig is Saying: 

“Coldstream Country Club is one of the gems in the Midwest. It is a fabulous golf course and the guys are looking forward to competing on it. This is also an unusual format with each team playing six guys with four scores counting. We will also be playing with our teammates in two threesomes for the entire competition and that is exciting for Ben (Fuqua) and I since we can each walk with a group. We are ready to play and see if we can improve upon our performance from Wolf Run.”

About the Lineup:

Kentucky came out in strong fashion in its first event of the year with all seven Wildcats placing in the top 25. This week’s starting lineup will feature freshman Allen Hamilton, sophomore Fred Allen Meyer, juniors Tyler “Chip” McDaniel, Cooper Musselman and Evan Cox, and senior Stephen Stallings.

Stallings finished just outside of the top 10 at Wolf Run after firing a one-under-par 70 – his first under par round of the season – on the final day of competition for a two-over-par total score and the eighth top-20 finish of his career. 

Matching Stallings’ finish, Musselman also placed in a tie for 11th place after picking up three birdies during his final round at Wolf Run. The junior fired an even-par 71 on the first day of play at Wolf Run Golf Club and ultimately finished six shots out of first place.

Cox, a transfer from Virginia Wesleyan, played as an individual in his first outing as a Wildcat. He finished 18th overall after regaining composure in the final round and firing a one-under-par round of 70. Cox even ended up bringing home the team’s first eagle of the season after holing out on the par-four 12th.  

Meyer led the Wildcat field after a career day and round of 69, which is also the team-low score for the season thus far in the opening round at Wolf Run. The Nicholasville, Kentucky, native still nabbed his first top-20 finish of his career, finishing in 14th place for the tournament. 

McDaniel improved 11 spots on the leaderboard after a final-round 72 and birdieing the starting and finishing holes of the back nine for a two-under 34 on the side for a top-25 finish. 

Hamilton will make his college debut at the Bearcat Invitational. The freshman was a four-year letter winner at Saint Xavier High School in Louisville and a two-time All-State performer who helped lead his team to consecutive state championships his junior and senior seasons. 

The Tournament Field:

The Wildcats will face Akron, Cincinnati, College of Charleston, Louisville, Michigan State, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, Ohio State, and Xavier in this season’s Bearcat Invitational.

About the Course:

This marks the second time in the Craig era that Kentucky will compete in the Bearcat Invitational after taking second place in 2011. The course itself is one of Cincinnati’s premier private clubs and plays 7,081 yards from the tips and holds a par of 71 while featuring bent grass greens and winter rye fairways. Live stats can be found at birdiefire.com.

Coldstream Country Club

Cincinnati, Ohio

Sept. 25-26

Par: 71

Yardage: 7,081

UK Lineup

Tyler “Chip” McDaniel

Cooper Musselman

Stephen Stallings

Fred Allen Meyer

Allen Hamilton

Evan Cox

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