Friday, September 17
Olympia Fields, Ill. (Olympia Fields C.C.)
All Day
North Carolina
at
Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational Day One
Photo by: Andy Mead
Ford Tied for First, UNC 2nd After 18 Holes at Olympia Fields
September 17, 2021 | Men's Golf
Carolina Two Off the Lead in Loaded Field
Freshman David Ford opened with a 68 that has him tied for the lead after 18 holes and sophomore Austin Greaser shot 69 to lead the University of North Carolina to a tie for second place after the first round of the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational Friday at the historic Olympia Fields North Course.
The Tar Heels, ranked No. 4, are one of all five teams ranked in the top five in the country in the Bushnell/Golfweek Coaches poll in the field. UNC is also one of six teams that advanced to match play in the 2021 NCAA Championship playing at Olympia Fields. In all, 10 of the 15 teams in the tournament are ranked in the coaches' top 25.
Ford birdied two of his first seven holes and was 3 under par until his only bogey of the day on his final hole. Greaser led Carolina and tied for the lead overall with five birdies, but also carded four bogeys and finished 1 under.
Peter Fountain and Ryan Gerard both shot 3-over 73s and Dougie Ergood posted a 75.
Carolina shot 3-over 283 to tie Indiana for second, two strokes behind Oklahoma State. Arizona State is 5 over and Florida, Purdue and Texas are tied for fifth place at 8 over.
Defending national champion Pepperdine is 12th at 13 over par.
Ford is tied with Indiana's Drew Salyers for the 18-hole lead. Greaser is tied for third with Fountain and Gerard tied for 32nd place.
Round two is Saturday and the final round is set for Sunday.
Olympia Fields has previously hosted U.S. Opens in 1928 and 2003, PGA Championships in 1925 and 1961 and the 2015 U.S. Amateur.
The Tar Heels, ranked No. 4, are one of all five teams ranked in the top five in the country in the Bushnell/Golfweek Coaches poll in the field. UNC is also one of six teams that advanced to match play in the 2021 NCAA Championship playing at Olympia Fields. In all, 10 of the 15 teams in the tournament are ranked in the coaches' top 25.
Ford birdied two of his first seven holes and was 3 under par until his only bogey of the day on his final hole. Greaser led Carolina and tied for the lead overall with five birdies, but also carded four bogeys and finished 1 under.
Peter Fountain and Ryan Gerard both shot 3-over 73s and Dougie Ergood posted a 75.
Carolina shot 3-over 283 to tie Indiana for second, two strokes behind Oklahoma State. Arizona State is 5 over and Florida, Purdue and Texas are tied for fifth place at 8 over.
Defending national champion Pepperdine is 12th at 13 over par.
Ford is tied with Indiana's Drew Salyers for the 18-hole lead. Greaser is tied for third with Fountain and Gerard tied for 32nd place.
Round two is Saturday and the final round is set for Sunday.
Olympia Fields has previously hosted U.S. Opens in 1928 and 2003, PGA Championships in 1925 and 1961 and the 2015 U.S. Amateur.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
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