Jacob Cook, Hugo Archer Earn First Career Top-10 Finishes
ESCANABA, Mich. – Graduate student Jacob Cook and sophomore Hugo Archer each earned their first career top-10 finishes to highlight the final round for the Kentucky men’s golf team at the Island Resort Intercollegiate on Monday. Cook led the UK starters who ascended the leaderboard into a tie for fourth, while Archer paced all Wildcats with a third place showing.
“Absolutely not the event we expected, but there are positives,” UK head coach Brian Craig said. “We had a chance today and had it going for a long while. We did not finish it off, but we will next time.”
Kentucky was charging early in the round on Monday with Cook at 4-under par over the opening nine holes. The Frankfort, Kentucky, native finished the round at 1-under par and moved into a tie for seventh. UK was utilizing strong play by Cook and junior Alex Goff who both made the turn under par to help the Wildcats move to within one shot of a top-three finish.
But things faltered on the back nine and UK could not recover despite posting the third-best score on the course during the final 18 holes. Michigan State earned the victory at 15-under par. UCF moved into second with an 8-over scorecard and Michigan was third at 16-over. UK tied Middle Tennessee State with a 21-over tournament score.
Archer pieced together rounds of 68-71-74 for a 3-under tournament and a tie for third place. The round of 68, the tournament score (213) and leaderboard finish are all career bests.
“The biggest success of the week was the excellent play of Hugo Archer,” Craig said. “Hugo has major talent and a relentless work ethic. We all knew it was only a matter of time before he busted out and played like he is capable. He will definitely be getting more opportunities now, and I can’t wait to help him continue to grow and improve.”
Archer competed in four events as a true freshman a season ago. To end the season, he produced his two best outings before this week at Island Resort. His previous career-low round was a 71 and his low-tournament score was a 223.
Cook’s finish in a tie for seventh also marked a career best. He saved his best for last with a 71 on Monday. Cook utilized back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth holes and again at the eighth and ninth to make the turn at 4-under. He suffered three bogeys on three of four holes on the back nine but finished with four straight pars to steady his round and finish among the leaders.
Goff generated the eighth top-20 finish of his career with a tie for 14th. He totaled an even-par 72 during Monday’s round which marked the 20th par-or-better round of his career.
Kentucky returns to action at the Old Town Club Collegiate Invitational hosted by Wake Forest University Sept. 27-28 in its second of four fall events.
AGATE
T4 – Kentucky (290, 299, 296 – 885, +21)
T7 – Jacob Cook (73, 74, 71 – 218, +2)
T14 – Alex Goff (74, 74, 72 – 220, +4)
T27 – Zach Norris (72, 76, 77 – 225, +9)
T35 – Garrett Wood (71, 75, 81 – 227, +11)
T56 – Cooper Parks (76, 84, 76 – 236, +20)
Individuals
T3 – Hugo Archer (68, 71, 74 – 213, -3)
T27 – Campbell Kremer (73, 77, 75 – 225, +9)
T31 – Jackson LaLonde (77, 73, 76 – 226, +10)
T48 – Tanner Parks (73, 76, 83 – 232, +16)
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