Difficult days in Alabama; Wildcats struggle in SEC Match Play

Dhaivat+Pandya+competes+during+the+Bearcat+Invitational.+Photo+provided+by+UK+Athletics.

Dhaivat Pandya competes during the Bearcat Invitational. Photo provided by UK Athletics.

Ian Alvano, Reporter

Kentucky mens golf faltered in Alabama, finishing in last place during the first two days of the tournament, going on to be eliminated by No. 14 Arkansas on the final day of the tournament.

It wasn’t quite the three-day performance Kentucky mens golf hoped for at the Old Overton Club in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.

Alex Goff started the first day of play by shooting three-over-par (73), finding his groove in the afternoon session and recording five birdies to shoot a 67.

Dhaivat Pandya shot a 74 and a 72 on the first day of action in the two respective rounds, putting him in 66th place with a score of six-over-par.

As a team, Kentucky found itself in last place with eight-over-par after the first day of play.

The third round of the tournament, on the other hand, saw some positives for the Wildcats.

Junior Campbell Kremer shot a career-low score on Monday, posting a four-under-par (66), tying him for 28th after his six-birdie day.

Garett Wood and Kevin Watts struggled on the course, with Wood shooting a 73 and Watts shooting a 74, putting them at 58th and 66th respectively.

The final day of play saw Kentucky face off against Arkansas in match play. Unfortunately for the Cats, the Razorbacks were impressive, currently standing as the No. 14 team in the country, sweeping Kentucky 5-0.

Pandya battled against Arkansas’ Wil Gibson, with Pandya’s par on hole 10 seeing him trailing by just one at that point. He was unable to overcome Gibson however, who went on to birdie holes 15 and 16 to win the match.

Kremer wasn’t able to keep his high level of play going either, bogeying holes four, five and seven and losing to Manuel Lozada.

Beyond just those two, none of the other Wildcats were able to beat their Arkansas opponents and the tournament would ultimately come to an end for Kentucky.

Looking ahead, the Cats next travel to the Hamptons Intercollegiate in East Hampton, New York to wrap up their fall schedule. The tournament is scheduled to take place from Oct. 3-4.