Strong Finish Propels UK on Day One of Schenkel Invitational

STATESBORO, Ga. – A strong finish to the opening round propelled the Kentucky men’s golf team to a 2-under-par opening score at the Schenkel Invitational on Friday. The Wildcats finished the day tied for seventh overall.
 
Four of UKs’ starters earned even-par or better scores, with Garrett Wood leading the way with a 2-under 70. He is tied for 11th on the individual leaderboard. Jacob Cook, Campbell Kremer and Zach Norris all generated an even-par round and are tied for 28th.
 
Tournament host Georgia Southern has a 10-shot lead on the field entering Saturday’s second round. The Eagles fired a 15-under par score. No. 17 Notre Dame, West Virginia and Cincinnati are tied for second at 5-under par. Furman and the College of Charleston have a one-shot edge over the Wildcats and Virginia Tech.
 
The opening nine holes proved to be a major test for the Wildcats, but UK ended the day in stylish fashion. Wood picked up a birdie on the 12th and registered a par score on each of the other eight holes on the back nine to get to his 2-under round and within striking distance of another top-10 finish.
 
Cook rebounded from a double-bogey at the 10th which moved him to 3-over par for the round with birdies at the 11th, 14th and 16th to get back to even par. Kremer faced a seesaw of emotions with a bogey at the 13th, birdie at the 14th and then a bogey at the 15th. He settled down and answered with a birdie at the par-four 17th to get back to even par.
 
Norris’ impressive rebound might have been the most impressive of all for the Wildcats. He suffered bogeys at the 10th, 13th and 14th. The McKee, Kentucky, native rebounded with big-time birdies at the 15th, 17th and 18th for his even-par scorecard.
 
Kentucky will carry momentum into the second round and firmly in contention. The Wildcats will tee off from the hole No. 1 at 9 a.m. and be paired alongside Campbell and Virginia Tech.
 
Alex Goff tallied a 78 during the day’s opening round and is tied for 78th, while individual Hugo Archer is tied for 66th with a 76.  
 
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AGATE
T7 – Kentucky (286, -2)
T11 – Garrett Wood (70, -2)
T28 – Jacob Cook (72, E)
T28 – Campbell Kremer (72, E)
T28 – Zach Norris (72, E)
T78 – Alex Goff (78, +6)
 
Individual
T66 – Hugo Archer (76, +4)