Norris’ Career-Low Round Highlights Day One at Jerry Pate
VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. – Paced by a career-low round from junior Zach Norris, the Kentucky men’s golf team shot 3-over par and is tied for 13th at the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate. Norris carded a round of 69 and is tied for 18th overall on the individual leaderboard.
“We had great effort today, but we were not very sharp,” UK head coach Brian Craig said. “The good news is we hung in there with Zach Norris and Jacob Cook leading the way. This golf course is really good, but you definitely need to know it. We should know it a little better for these last two rounds.”
Norris, making his first appearance of the 2020-21 season, made his presence felt with the career-low scorecard. The McKee, Kentucky, native shook off a slow start with a birdie at the par-three third – his eighth hole of the round after beginning with a shotgun start off the 14th. He then registered the first eagle of the season for the Wildcats at the par-four sixth. He bogeyed the 10th but capped the day with three pars to conclude the round at 1-under. Norris previously notched five career rounds of 70 to mark his career low score prior to today’s round.
The Wildcats are tied with LSU for 13th but are just 10 shots back of a top-three finish in another closely bunched field. Georgia at 15-under par is the clubhouse leader after the opening day. Vanderbilt is second (-10) and Auburn at 7-under is third. UK’s 283 score during today’s round is the second lowest of the season.
Kentucky will be paired with LSU entering day two of play. The Wildcats and Tigers will tee off from the 10th beginning at 10:35 a.m. ET. Live stats are available via golfstat.com.
Graduate student Jacob Cook also enjoyed a strong round on Sunday. He fired an even-par 70 and benefited from two late birdies. Cook began the round with a birdie at the par-four 13th but suffered a bit of a rough patch with bogeys on three of his next eight holes. He fought off the miscues with birdies at the seventh and ninth. The Frankfort, Kentucky, native played his final three holes at even par to secure the steady score.
Sophomores Alex Goff and Cooper Parks are both tied for 48th on the individual leaderboard following rounds of 2-over 72. Parks’ round is a season low. Senior Allen Hamilton concluded the day in 70th with a round of 83.
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s golf team, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and on the web at UKathletics.com.
