Men’s Golf Returns to Action at Pinehurst No. 2
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky men’s golf team is set to return to action on Monday at the Wake Forest Invitational at Pinehurst No. 2. The Wildcats are among a field of 12 teams playing on one of the most famous courses in the country in a two-day, 54-hole event.
Kentucky will start Jacob Cook and Garrett Wood who both captured top-10 finishes at UK’s opening spring event of the season last week. Joining them are Alex Goff, Campbell Kremer and Jackson LaLonde. Jay Kirchdorfer will compete as an individual.
“What an opportunity for our team to compete on Pinehurst No. 2. It is one of the most historic and strategically challenging courses in the United States and will be an extraordinary test for our team,” UK head coach Brian Craig said. “This is the type of course where you learn how to play intelligent golf. We can’t wait to test ourselves on such a fine championship course.”
This is UK’s first-ever appearance in the event that is hosted by Wake Forest. Pinehurst No. 2 was first opened in 1907 and designed by Donald Ross. It is known for its green complexes and is scheduled to be set up as a par 70 at 7,125 yards.
NOTEWORTHY
The Field: The field will play a 54-hole event over two days with the teams playing a continuous 36 holes on the opening day. No. 20 Wake Forest will field two squads and be joined by Augusta, Duke, East Carolina, Kentucky, NC State, East Tennessee State, Iowa, Yale, San Francisco and No. 24 Clemson in the field.
The Lineup: Cook, Goff and Wood have started all four stroke-events this season. Kremer is set to make his third start of the season and the fifth of his career, while LaLonde is making his starting debut in 2021-22 at Pinehurst. It is the second start of his career overall.
Total career sub-70 Rounds:
Goff – 12
Wood – 10
Cook – 7
Kremer – 1
Leading the Way: Cook is simply having the best season if his collegiate career. The Frankfort, Kentucky, native has generated three top-10 finishes in four events this season. He is leading the team with a career-low 70.77 stroke average and has eight par-or-better rounds on the season. Cook has produced his two lowest collegiate rounds and his two lowest 54-hole totals this season.
Playing Like a Vet: Wood is nearly matching Cook in every statistical category. He has produced a pair of top-10 finishes, including a tie for sixth at the Lake Las Vegas Intercollegiate in the team’s last event. Wood is leading the team with 10 par-or-better rounds, including going under par in all three rounds last week at Reflection Bay. Wood owns a 70.92 stroke average and has generated his two lowest rounds in 2021-22 and earned a career-low-tying 205 54-hole total at the Old Town Collegiate Invitational this fall.
Law of Averages: As a team, UK is logging an average round of 72.95 over 88 rounds of action this season. Cook paces the squad at 70.77, while Wood owns a 70.92 average. Goff is notching a 72.17 score, while Kremer owns a 72.67 average.
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