Jones Ties for Second at Johnny Owens Invitational

Saturday, March 29

Lexington, Ky.

All Day

University of Louisville

at Johnny Owens Invitational

Sophomore Brett Jones braved harsh conditions to rally to a second place finish at the Johnny Owens Invitational

March 31, 2003 | Men's Golf

March 31, 2003

Tied for 20th heading into Sunday's final round, Brett Jones displayed the hot swing he used to establish a record setting pace during the fall season as he carded the lowest round of the day, a one-under 71, to pull himself into a tie for second place and the Cards into a tie for seventh place on the final day of action at the Johnny Owens Invitational hosted by the University of Kentucky.

In an event plagued by cold, wet and windy conditions in which there were few rounds under par, Jones broke out of a mini-slump and got back on track as he found the swing which put him on pace to destroy the U of L record for single season stroke average during a blistering fall season. The Paducah native and 2002 Conference USA Freshman of the Year was six strokes off the pace set by medalist Heath Powers of Indiana heading into the final round, but carded the low round of the day to tie Indiana's Jeff Overton for runners up honors at 222, two strokes behind Peters.

Jones' final round heroics helped the Cards rally from 12th-place after two rounds into a tie for seventh with Miami (Ohio), 27 shots off the pace set by tournament champion Vanderbilt. The Cards rebounded from an opening-round 315 with rounds of 306 and 309 in the tough conditions.

A relative newcomer to the lineup, freshman Brent Holmes was impressive despite the conditions, carding rounds of 79, 76 and 78 to finish tied for 28th-place with teammate Mark Anderson who sandwiched rounds of 80 and 81 around an impressive second round 72.

Freshman Will Hanna and Matt Bascom, the lone senior on the U of L roster, struggled in the harsh conditions, finishing tied for 64th and 76th, respectively.

The Cards return to action at the Marshall Invitational in Huntington, W.V., on April 4-5.

    Place   Player          Score    T-2 Brett Jones  75-76-71 = 222 (+6)    T-28    Brent Holmes    79-76-78 = 233 (+17)    T-28    Mark Anderson  80-72-81 = 233 (+17)    T-64    Will Hanna           81-82-79 = 242 (+26)    T-76    Matt Bascom  82-82-86 = 250 (+34)