Jansen Preston, Jack Schoenberger Post Top-20 Finishes at Folds of Honor

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. – Top-20 finishes from Jansen Preston and Jack Schoenberger highlighted the final day of action at American Dunes Golf Club for Kentucky men’s golf, as the Wildcats completed the season-opening event on Wednesday by finishing in ninth place as a team at 28-over par. The UK starting five made 14 total birdies on the day, the team’s most in a single round this week.

“I thought our guys showed a lot of fight and resilience this week,” head coach Gator Todd said. “The field was very top heavy with some of the best teams in the country. We got to see where we stack up early in the year and we know we have work to do. I’m proud of Jansen and Jack for stepping up, they both finished top 20 against a great field. Also proud of Coach Chip and Coach Peter for helping lead our team this week.”

For Preston, the T-16 finish was a new collegiate best, improving upon his T19 result at last spring’s Mason Rudolph Championship. Schoenberger, who was a top 20 machine last season at Belmont, continued his consistent play this week, tying for 19th overall at 5-over par. The junior now has 15 consecutive top 20 finishes in collegiate events, a streak which dates back to his freshman season in 2022-23.

Preston’s final round saw the senior captain make two birdies and two bogeys on each nine at American Dunes. Starting on No. 10, the Lexington native sandwiched a birdie on No. 14 between bogeys on both No. 13 and No. 15, before adding another bird on the par-4 No. 17. After bogeys on No. 1 and No. 2 to start his homeward half, Preston got himself back to level par for the second-consecutive day with birdies on No. 3 and No. 6.

Schoenberger also racked up four birdies in the final round, capitalizing on his first hole of the day, No. 10, the par-5 No. 18 and Nos. 7 and 8 coming in. It marked the second-straight day in which the Alpharetta, Ga. native closed with a bang, going 2-under over his final three holes in round three after going 3-under on his final five holes a day ago.

Redshirt sophomore Solomon Petrie remained consistent, posting a 3-over par 74 for the third-straight day. Petrie, who made two birdies during the final round, ended the tournament in a tie for 34th, three spots higher than his finish at the Folds of Honor a season ago.

Freshman Gavin Clutts completed his first college event in a tie for 42nd after a final round 76 left him at 12-over par for the tournament. Grad-transfer Jackson Klutznick contributed his first counting score as a Wildcat on Wednesday, carding a 3-over par 74. Klutznick birdied both par-3s on his outward nine (No. 12 and No. 15) and added a third on the par-5 sixth hole coming home. The former Emory Eagle tied for 60th at 18-over par in his Division I debut.

Fellow Southeastern Conference member Alabama earned the team title with a 54-hole score of 12-under par, while the Crimson Tide’s Dominic Clemons took home the individual victory.

“It was a special week for our guys,” Todd said. “As a coach, you are always looking to provide your team with different experiences, and this is one of the coolest and most unique events in college golf. To have the opportunity to play at American Dunes on 9/11 is something we will never forget.”

The Folds of Honor Collegiate benefits the non-profit organization, Folds of Honor, which provides educational scholarships to the children and spouses of military members who have fallen or been disabled while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The tournament is in its third year overall with Kentucky participating for the second-consecutive season in 2024.

Kentucky will return to competition next week at the Bearcat Invitational, held Sept. 16-17 at Coldstream Country Club in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Leaderboard

T16: Jansen Preston (75-71-71)
T19: Jack Schoenberger (73-72-73)
T34: Solomon Petrie (74-74-74)
T42: Gavin Clutts (76-73-76)
T60: Jackson Klutznick (82-75-74)

Bold = Counting score

For the latest on UK Men’s Golf follow the Wildcats on X and Instagram @UKmensgolf, and online at ukathletics.com.