Kentucky men’s golf opened its spring season at the Watersound Invitational, with head coach Gator Todd sending five Wildcats to compete in the team lineup and freshman Cameron Phillips playing as an individual.

The tournament was held Feb. 16-18 at the Watersound Club’s Third Course in Panama City, Fla.

In a competitive 12-team field that included four of the top-15 teams in the nation, Kentucky finished seventh with a three-round total of 835 (five-under par). Arkansas took home the team title at 821 (19-under par).

The Wildcats put together one of their strongest rounds in recent memory during round two, posting a 272, their lowest 18-hole score not only this season, but dating back to last year.

Their previous best was a 274 at the Visit Knox Collegiate in 2024.

After 36 holes, Kentucky was tied with Vanderbilt for the second-lowest team score in the field, firmly in contention heading into the final round.

Luke Coyle delivered one of the highlights of the week, matching his collegiate career-low with a second-round 66 (-4). He also shot 66 at the Visit Knox Collegiate in the fall. Coyle carded five birdies and just one bogey in the round, improving by 11 strokes from his opening round.

Cole Stockard followed with a strong second round of his own, tying his career-low 66 — a score he originally set at the Cullan Brown Collegiate, where he was crowned tournament champion. Stockard ultimately finished tied for 48th alongside teammate Jacob Lang.

Jacob Settles led Kentucky individually, finishing seventh overall with a three-round total of 205 (five-under par). After opening with a 71 (+1), Settles bounced back in a big way, firing rounds of 66 and 68 over the final two days.

Senior Jack Schoenberger added another solid finish in his final season, placing 14th at two-under par. Meanwhile, Phillips shot even par while competing as an individual and recorded Kentucky’s only eagle of the tournament, continuing to gain valuable experience against a strong collegiate field.

The par-70 course proved fair but competitive, with a field average of 70.9.

Kentucky excelled on par 3s, tying for first as a team with a 2.99 scoring average. Phillips and Schoenberger both ranked tied for fourth individually in that category.

Settles also stood out on par 5s, tying for first with a 4.22 average and finishing seven-under on those holes for the event.

Team Scoreboard: 

7th – Jacob Settles: 71-66-68
14th – Jack Schoenberger: 68-68-72
29th – Cameron Phillips*: 67-68-75
T-48 – Cole Stockard: 74-66-69
T-48 – Jacob Lang: 68-74-73
T-56 – Luke Coyle: 77-66-74
*Competed as an individual

With a program-best round over the past two seasons and several players finding early spring form, Kentucky leaves Florida with momentum as the Wildcats look ahead to the rest of their spring schedule.

Kentucky will be back in action on March 1-2, traveling to Bluffton, S.C., to compete in the Colleton River Collegiate.