Gerard Fires a 7-Under 65 in Final Round in Arkansas

Wednesday, October 6

Johnson, Ark. (Blessings G.C.)

All Day

North Carolina

Blessings Collegiate Invitational Day Three

October 6, 2021 | Men's Golf

Blessings (M) Rd 3

Ties for 6th, Leads UNC to Tie for 4th

By: Steve Kirschner

Ryan Gerard, a fifth-year senior from Raleigh, made an eagle and seven birdies en route to a 65 in the final round of the Blessings Collegiate Invitational Wednesday at the Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Ark.

Gerard tied for sixth place and led UNC to a tie for fourth in the 10-team field. Gerard was one of three Tar Heels to finish in the top 12 with Austin Greaser, who tied for ninth, and Peter Fountain who tied for 12^th.

The 65 was Gerard's low round of the season (and lowest by a Tar Heel in three events this year) and tied his second-lowest round as a Tar Heel. It was his lowest round since he shot a school-record 61 in the third round at Notre Dame in October 2018. He also shot 65 in the opening round in that same tournament at Notre Dame when he was a sophomore.

He shot 76 in the first round at the Blessings, but followed that with a 69 in round two and 65 today for a 6-under 210 total.

"As a group, we've had a lot of 'mojo' so far this year," says head coach Andrew DiBitetto. "That wasn't the case this week. The good news is we've played some incredible and challenging golf courses in our three tournaments. Our guys know what they do well and they also know where they can improve.

"Individually, we saw some excellent moments again this week, highlighted by Ryan Gerard's 65 today. He hit several incredible shots and made putts. He was in the zone, especially on the back nine."

Greaser shot 75 today to tie for ninth at 3-under 213 and Peter Fountain was even par today and tied for 12^th at 2-under 214.

Host Arkansas won the team title at 18 under par, 13 strokes ahead of runner-up Arizona. Ole Miss was third at 3 under, while the Tar Heel tied Tennessee and Illinois for fourth at 1 under.

Razorback Luke Long was the individual medalist at 11-under 205.

Gerard and Greaser were second and tied for third in birdies for the tournament with 19 and 16, respectively.

Carolina is off for three weeks until hosting The Williams Cup presented by STITCH Golf at Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington October 25-26.