Greaser's Ace Leads UNC to 36-Hole Lead

Saturday, September 18

Olympia Fields, Ill. (Olympia Fields C.C.)

All Day

North Carolina

Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational Day Two

Austin Greaser
University of North Carolina Men’s Golf
Rod Myers Invitational
Day 1
Washington Duke Golf Course
Durham, NC
Saturday, September 11, 2021

Photo by: Andy Mead

September 18, 2021 | Men's Golf

Olympia Fields Rd 2

Tar Heels in Front by Three at Olympia Fields

By: Steve Kirschner

University of North Carolina junior Austin Greaser made his first career hole in one and was one of three Tar Heels to shoot under par Saturday to propel UNC to a three-stroke lead after 36 holes at the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational at the North Course.

Greaser aced the 13th hole en route to a second-round 68. He is in fourth place in the individual standings at 3-under 137, one shot behind a trio of golfers, including Tar Heel freshman David Ford.

It was Carolina's first ace in competition since Jose Montaño at the Lonnie Poole Golf Club in Raleigh in 2017.

Greaser and Ford led UNC in Saturday's second round with 68s, Ryan Gerard shot 69 and Peter Fountain and Dougie Ergood finished with 73s.

The Tar Heels were one of three teams to shoot under par in the second round. UNC and Baylor shot 2-under 278 and Arizona State shot 1-under 279.

Carolina has a two-day total of 1-over 561, three strokes ahead of the Sun Devils. Oklahoma State is third (+7), Indiana is fourth (+11) and Alabama is fifth (+13). Defending NCAA champion Pepperdine made the biggest move of the day in the standings, climbing six positions to sixth at plus 14.

Ford shared the 18-hole lead Friday after an opening-round 68 and has a piece of the 36-hole lead after another 68 that featured four birdies and two bogeys. He is tied atop the leader board with Arizona State's David Puig, who shot 66 today, and Oklahoma State's Brian Stark.

Greaser, Ford and Stark are the only players in the field who have shot in the 60s in both rounds.

Gerard was 3 over par through four holes and remained that way parring out through the 10th hole, but made birdies on four of the next five holes to finish 1 under for the day. The fifth-year senior is tied for 17th.

The third and final round is Sunday.

The field includes the top-five ranked teams in the country in the Bushnell/Golfweek Coaches poll (UNC is No. 4 ), and 10 of the 15 teams in the tournament are ranked in the top 25.