Wildcats Find Eighth Place, 18 Holes To Go at Spartan Sun Coast Invitational
SARASOTA, Fla. – The University of Kentucky women’s golf team battled through wind gusts close to 40 miles per hour at the Spartan Sun Coast Invitational on Sunday, playing 36 holes at Palm Aire Country Club (par 72, 6,191 yards) in Sarasota, Florida.
The Wildcats, who were tied for first place on an 8-over through 18 holes, are currently in eighth place on a 37-over through 36 holes.
In the first round, UK combined for 18 birdies and an eagle by sophomore and Lexington, Kentucky, native C.A. Carter.
Karlie Campbell contributed a team-lead five birdies herself, while all five players made birdie on No. 11 (par 5, 480 yards).
Cathryn Brown’s 1-under led Kentucky in the first round, while Samantha Paradise (74, +2), Campbell (75, +3) and Carter (76, +4) rounded out the counting scorers in the first round. Paradise is competing in her first lineup at UK, while it just her second appearance overall at UK.
It was a different tune in the second round, though, as the wind picked up and the day carried on.
The Wildcats grinded out 12 fewer birdies on the second lap around the golf course, and a handful more bogeys.
Brown continued to pace the team but this time with a 6-over in the second round. She added an eagle to the team count, rolling one in on the par-5 No. 11. Hekkonen also earned an eagle on the same hole, helping her go 7-over in the second round. Carter went 7-over in the second round, too, while Campbell and Paradise turned in scores of 9-over.
Brown, the experienced veteran in the young lineup, improved her streak to 20 straight rounds contributed toward the team total, a stretch that began last season.
The Eddyville, Kentucky, native is leading the team tied for 11th place (+5), while Carter and Paradise are tied for 34th place (+11), Campbell is T42 (+12) and Hekkonen is T54 (+15).
Kentucky is just five shots outside of the top five, which is currently occupied by Ohio State (5th, +32), Michigan and Maryland (T3, +31), Oklahoma (2nd, +26) and Northwestern in first place on a 24-over.
Kentucky will tee off in the final round in an 8:15 a.m. ET shotgun start on Monday, paired with Michigan State and Purdue.
Fans can follow along with live scoring here: https://scoreboard.clippd.com/tournaments/239138/scoring/team.
Scorecard
T11 Cathryn Brown 71, 78 … 149 (+5)
T34 C.A. Carter 76, 79 … 155 (+11)
T34 Samantha Paradise 74, 81 … 155 (+11)
T42 Karlie Campbell 75, 81 … 156 (+12)
T54 Anastasia Hekkonen 80, 79 … 159 (+15)
8 Kentucky 296, 317 … 613 (+37)
For the latest on the Kentucky women’s golf team, follow the team on X, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as on the web at UKathletics.com.
