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Final Results
CINCINNATI - A dramatic eagle on the 18th hole by University of Cincinnati sophomore Austin Squires (Union, Ky./Ryle High School) finalized his individual title and secured the team crown for the Bearcats during third-round action Tuesday at the Firestone Invitational at the Firestone Country Club (par 72, 7,125 yards) in Akron, Ohio.
Squires carded a career-low 11-under par 69-68-68=205 to claim his first collegiate title, marking UC's first individual medalist since Davis Baxter (Nolensville, Tenn./Ravenwood High School) won the 2015 Mountaineer Intercollegiate. The 11-under 205 result also signified the lowest three-round score by a UC player during Doug Martin's 11-year tenure as the Bearcats' head coach.
Squires started the 550-yard final hole hitting a drive 350 yards off the tee before his second shot with a 7-iron landed 12 feet from the hole. He putted in from there for eagle and the victory.
Squires' memorable final round included not only his eagle shot on No. 18, but also four birdies and 11 par scores on Tuesday. He finished four strokes ahead of second-place finishers Bryce Howell of Furman (7-under 69-70-70=209) and Kyle Rhodes of Eastern Michigan (7-under 69-71-69).
The final-hole effort also gave the Bearcats the team crown as UC was tied with second-place finisher Illinois State (11-under 284-278-291) as Squires started the last hole.
"Austin got off to a great start today and was 3-under on the front nine," Martin said. "He had great control of his emotions all day which is important when you have the lead and haven't won a collegiate tournament before. He's an extremely talented young man with a bright future."
UC closed the tournament on a strong note, especially on No. 18 as the other four Bearcats accounting for the team score birdied the final hole. The win marked Cincinnati's first team title since the 2014 Bearcat Invitational, a span of 24 tournaments.
Senior Jared O'Kelley (Canton, Ga./Creekview High School) earned his third consecutive top-20 finish, tying for 15th place at 2-under 73-69-72=215. Freshman Jake Fox (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller High School) registered his third top-25 finish in four collegiate events, tying for 23rd place at 1-over 72-71-74=217. Freshman Paul Huber (Edgewood, Ky./Covington Catholic) tied for 27th place at 2-over 69-77-72=218. Senior Blake Hamilton (Union, Ky./Ryle High School) climbed 24 positions in the standings Tuesday to tie for 38th place at 6-over 75-76-71=222.
"It was an entire team effort today," Martin said. "When you are in contention, you have to hit quality shots to win and we did. Four birdies and an eagle on the final hole is invaluable. This is a fun group to watch. They are hungry and competitive and didn't let down for a second. It is a great day for the program."
// BEARCAT SCORERS
1st - Austin Squires, So., Union, Ky./Ryle High School - 69-68-68=205 (-11)
T15th - Jared O'Kelley, Sr., Canton, Ga./Creekview High School - 73-69-72=214 (-2)
T23rd - Jake Fox, Fr., Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller High School - 72-71-74=217 (+1)
T27th - Paul Huber, Soph., Edgewood, Ky./Covington Catholic - 69-77-72=218 (+2)
T38th - Blake Hamilton, Sr., Union, Ky./Ryle High School - 75-76-71=222 (+6)
84th - Davis Baxter, Fr., Nolensville, Tenn./Ravenwood High School - 77-7982=238 (+22)*
* - Played event as an individual.
// FIRESTONE INVITATIONAL TEAM STANDINGS
1st - Cincinnati - 283-284-283=850 (-14)
2nd - Illinois State - 284-278-291=853 (-11)
2nd - Akron - 280-284-292=856 (-8)
4th - Dayton - 282-285-293=860 (-4)
5th - Eastern Michigan - 286-282-294=862 (-2)
6th - Chattanooga - 290-286-287=863 (-1)
7th - Ball State - 281-290-295=866 (+2)
8th - Marshall - 287-284-301=872 (+8)
9th - Ohio - 290-290-294=874 (+10)
T10th - Furman - 291-292-295=878 (+14)
T10th - South Carolina-Aiken - 292-289-297=878 (+14)
12th - Western Kentucky - 296-295-294=885 (+21)
13th - Francis Marion - 300-290-296=886 (+22)
14th - Old Dominion - 293-291-307=891 (+27)
15th - Georgetown - 300-296-300=896 (+32)
16th - Xavier - 293-301-308=902 (+38)
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats participate in the Mountaineer Intercollegiate hosted by West Virginia, Oct. 10-11 in Bridgeport, WVa.