Bedell Leads Final Day Charge as UK Finishes in Sixth at Schenkel
STATESBORO, Ga. – Graduate student Reid Bedell’s 1-under-par 71 led the charge for the Kentucky men’s golf team as the Wildcats ascended into sixth overall to conclude a rainy and windy final round of the Schenkel Invitational on Sunday. UK was the biggest mover during the final round, climbing four spots and narrowly missing on a sixth-straight top-five finish in the event.
“What a great experience for our guys today. It rained all day and was pretty windy,” UK head coach Brian Craig said. “We put up a pretty good number that definitely helped our finish.”
Bedell saved his best for last with the 1-under 71. He ended the week as Kentucky’s highest finisher among the starting lineup in a tie for 27th overall. The Fair Haven, New Jersey, native picked up steam as he concluded his round firing birdies on three of his final four holes. It marked a second straight day with a par-or-better score and in his three starts this season, he has been among the top two of Kentucky’s finishers.
No. 21 NC State captured the Schenkel Invitational winning by 27 strokes at 25-under par. Georgia Southern was second with a 2-over scorecard and Furman at 6-over par finished in third. UK’s 4-over score during Sunday’s round was the second best on the course, trailing only NC State’s 1-under round. Kentucky was just two shots back of East Tennessee State at 18-over for fifth place.
“A big shout out to Allen Hamilton with a terrific finish this week,” Craig said. “It’s well deserved for one of our senior leaders.”
Kentucky’s individuals shined on the final day with senior Allen Hamilton matching Bedell’s round of 71 to finish the week at 3-under par and in seventh. It is his first top-10 finish of the season and the second of his career. Hamilton fought off a slow start with three birdies and even par scores over his final 12 holes to finish his round in stylish fashion.
“And, how about Campbell Kremer with a 68 today which was a fabulous round of golf,” Craig added. “We have a quick turnaround and then head to the Hootie down Charleston. These last two days really gives us some momentum to take to Bulls Bay.”
Freshman Campbell Kremer produced the best round of his young collegiate career and the best round of the week for any Wildcat with a 4-under 68. He surged into a tie for 29th overall and broke a few milestones along the way. In addition to the career-low round, the Louisville, Kentucky, native topped personal bests in total round score (222) and finish.
Bedell opened his round on the back nine and found himself in a hole with a bogey at the 13th. He quickly got the shot back with a birdie at the 14th, but then a bogey at the 15th followed and he made the turn at 1-over par. His round moved to 2-over par with another setback at the second, but then things turned. He picked up some momentum with a birdie at the par-three sixth. Bedell then finished with back-to-back birdies at the par-four eighth and the par-five ninth.
Graduate student Jacob Cook fended off a tough start to card a 73 to aid UK’s cause in the comeback. Cook concluded the tournament in a tie for 29th at 6-over par.
Sophomore Cooper Parks shot an 80, but benefited from a terrific second round, to finish in a tie for 33rd. Sophomore Alex Goff concluded the tournament in a tie for 40th following a 74 on the final day. Junior Zach Norris played his best round of the Schenkel Invitational on Sunday with a final-day 74. He capped the tournament in 73rd.
Freshman Hugo Archer totaled a 2-over 74 to tie his collegiate-low score to finish in a tie for 61st overall playing as an individual.
Kentucky returns to action March 28-30 at the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate for its fourth of five regular-season spring events.
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