Kentucky Men’s Golf Finishes 11th at SEC Championship
ST SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – The Kentucky men’s golf team posted its best team finish at the Southeastern Conference Championship since 2021, wrapping up the 2024 event on Friday in 11th place with a 54-hole total of 859 (+19) at Sea Island Golf Club’s Seaside Course (par 70, 7005 yards).
Alex Goff was the top individual finisher for UK, tying for 14th at his final SEC Championship at 2-under par total. Jansen Preston also notched a top-30 finish in his first SEC Championship start, placing T30 at 1-over par for the week.
“I’m proud of our team for putting themselves in the mix this week against the elite competition the SEC has to offer,” head coach Gator Todd said. “We had a very strong opening day and some solid playing from Alex [Goff] and Jansen [Preston] all week. Our young guys gained valuable experience that will be useful for them in the years to come at this tournament.”
Beginning the day in 12th place, Kentucky improved its standing by one spot on the final day of stroke play, shooting 289 (+9). Goff made a lone birdie and a bogey to card an even-par 70, while Preston and Oakley Gee both finished the day at 1-over par.
Preston tallied a pair of birdies in round three, converting on No. 15 (par 5, 565 yards) and No. 8 (par 4, 368 yards). Gee, the redshirt freshman from Carmi, Illinois, poured in a team-high four birdies on Friday. Starting on the back nine, Gee went out in 2-under with birdies on No. 12 (par 3, 223 yards), No. 16 (par 4, 407 yards) and No. 17 (Par 3, 192 yards). He added a birdie on No. 5 (par 4, 409 yards) to help him close out his best round of the week and finish T52 in the field. Gee’s par-3 scoring average of 2.83 for the tournament tied him for the third-best mark in the field.
Making his SEC Tournament debut as a substitute for round three, freshman Michael Hake was the Wildcats’ fourth counting score, posting a 7-over par 77. Hake converted birdies on No. 17 (par 3, 192 yards) and No. 3, par 3, 204 yards).
Senior Campbell Kremer concluded the tournament with a round of 80 (+10) on the final day. He ended the week T59 at 13-over par overall.
The top eight teams from stroke play move onto tomorrow’s match play portion of the tournament. Alabama was the final team inside the cut line with a 2-under score for the Championship. Auburn and Tennessee shared medalist honors at 14-under par.
The NCAA Men’s Selection Show is scheduled for May 1 at 2 p.m. on GOLF Channel. Goff is expected to be an individual selection to one of the six NCAA Regional Sites.
Kentucky Results:
T14: Alex Goff (71-67-70-208)
T30: Jansen Preston (70-70-71-211)
T52: Oakley Gee (74-75-71-220)
T59: Campbell Kremer (68-75-80-223)
S: Michael Hake (77)
Bold = Counting score
S=Substitute
For the latest on UK Men’s Golf follow the Wildcats on X and Instagram @UKmensgolf, and online at ukathletics.com.
