TicketsUniversity of Cincinnati men's golfers Austin Squires (Union, Ky./Ryle HS) and Sam Jean (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) ranked among the Top 10 in the individual standings and the Bearcats climbed into sixth place after two rounds of play Saturday at the Rod Myers Invitational at Duke University Golf Club in Durham, N.C.
Squires vaulted 25 places during the afternoon's second round thanks to a 4-under par 68 performance that featured a 4-under score over his final three holes. His strong finish started with a 20-foot putt for eagle on the seventh hole. He registered birdies on the eighth and ninth holes each to surge into a tie for eighth at 2-under 74-68=142.
Unlike Squires, who found some difficulties in the first round, Jean was steady throughout the day in his first rounds at the collegiate level en route to a 2-under 71-71=142. His morning round featured an eagle, two birdies and 12 par scores. His afternoon round included only two bogies, saw three birdies and 13 par scores.
The duo's strong play spurred the Bearcats to a 2-under 286 team score in the afternoon, tying for best round of the day in a 13-team field that includes six squads that qualified for the NCAA tournament last season. The Bearcats enter the final round Sunday at 4-over 294-286=580. Penn State leads at 11-under 278-287=565.
Bearcats freshman Mason Lenhart (Prospect, Ky./North Oldham HS) carded a 3-over 74-76=147, to tie for 27th place in first two rounds of college play. He recorded a hole-in-one on the par-three 15th hole during first round action. Sophomore Nicolas Osterburg (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian HS), who is tied for 39th place at 5-over 75-74=149. Senior Paul Huber (Edgewood, Ky./Covington Catholic HS) tied for 55th place at 8-over 78 74=152.
Florida State's John Pak shot a tournament record 10-under 62 in the morning's first round and leads the 75-player field at 13-under 62-69=131.
Sunday's final-round tee times start at 8:30 a.m. ET for the Bearcats. Follow the action on Golfstat.com.
// QUOTING HEAD COACH DOUG MARTIN
On the play of freshmen Sam Jean and Mason Lenhart:
"I was very impressed with both of our freshmen, who were playing in their first college tournament. Many times in your first event you show a lot of emotions and have a lot of ups and downs but I really liked their patience today."
On Austin Squires:
"Austin really showed how explosive of a player he can be when he shot 4-under on the last three holes this afternoon. The fact that he didn't play with his best stuff today but is still in the Top 10 speaks to how far he has come since his freshman season."
On the team overall:
"Certainly we made some errors today but I'm very pleased with our performance. Guys hung in there all day on a course that demands a lot of patience."
// PLAYER RESULTS
T8 – Austin Squires 74-68=142 (-2)
T8 – Sam Jean 71-71=142 (-2)
T27 – Mason Lenhart 74-73=147 (+3)
T39 – Nicolas Osterburg 75-74=149 (+5)
T55 – Paul Huber 78 74=152 (+8)
// TEAM STANDINGS
1 – Penn State 278-287=565 (-11)
2 – North Carolina 280-286=566 (-10)
3 – Duke 288-286=574 (-2)
4 – Florida State 287-288=575 (-1)
5 – Liberty 289-290=579 (+3)
6 – Cincinnati 294-286=580 (+4)
7 – East Tennessee State 289-293=582 (+6)
8 – Virginia Tech 294-291=585 (+9)
9 – East Carolina 292-301=593 (+17)
10 – UNC-Greensboro 300-294=594 (+18)
11 – Florida Southern 299-298=597 (+21)
12 – Princeton 300-301=601 (+25)
13 – Nebraska 311-299=610 (+34)
Squires vaulted 25 places during the afternoon's second round thanks to a 4-under par 68 performance that featured a 4-under score over his final three holes. His strong finish started with a 20-foot putt for eagle on the seventh hole. He registered birdies on the eighth and ninth holes each to surge into a tie for eighth at 2-under 74-68=142.
Unlike Squires, who found some difficulties in the first round, Jean was steady throughout the day in his first rounds at the collegiate level en route to a 2-under 71-71=142. His morning round featured an eagle, two birdies and 12 par scores. His afternoon round included only two bogies, saw three birdies and 13 par scores.
The duo's strong play spurred the Bearcats to a 2-under 286 team score in the afternoon, tying for best round of the day in a 13-team field that includes six squads that qualified for the NCAA tournament last season. The Bearcats enter the final round Sunday at 4-over 294-286=580. Penn State leads at 11-under 278-287=565.
Bearcats freshman Mason Lenhart (Prospect, Ky./North Oldham HS) carded a 3-over 74-76=147, to tie for 27th place in first two rounds of college play. He recorded a hole-in-one on the par-three 15th hole during first round action. Sophomore Nicolas Osterburg (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian HS), who is tied for 39th place at 5-over 75-74=149. Senior Paul Huber (Edgewood, Ky./Covington Catholic HS) tied for 55th place at 8-over 78 74=152.
Florida State's John Pak shot a tournament record 10-under 62 in the morning's first round and leads the 75-player field at 13-under 62-69=131.
Sunday's final-round tee times start at 8:30 a.m. ET for the Bearcats. Follow the action on Golfstat.com.
// QUOTING HEAD COACH DOUG MARTIN
On the play of freshmen Sam Jean and Mason Lenhart:
"I was very impressed with both of our freshmen, who were playing in their first college tournament. Many times in your first event you show a lot of emotions and have a lot of ups and downs but I really liked their patience today."
On Austin Squires:
"Austin really showed how explosive of a player he can be when he shot 4-under on the last three holes this afternoon. The fact that he didn't play with his best stuff today but is still in the Top 10 speaks to how far he has come since his freshman season."
On the team overall:
"Certainly we made some errors today but I'm very pleased with our performance. Guys hung in there all day on a course that demands a lot of patience."
// PLAYER RESULTS
T8 – Austin Squires 74-68=142 (-2)
T8 – Sam Jean 71-71=142 (-2)
T27 – Mason Lenhart 74-73=147 (+3)
T39 – Nicolas Osterburg 75-74=149 (+5)
T55 – Paul Huber 78 74=152 (+8)
// TEAM STANDINGS
1 – Penn State 278-287=565 (-11)
2 – North Carolina 280-286=566 (-10)
3 – Duke 288-286=574 (-2)
4 – Florida State 287-288=575 (-1)
5 – Liberty 289-290=579 (+3)
6 – Cincinnati 294-286=580 (+4)
7 – East Tennessee State 289-293=582 (+6)
8 – Virginia Tech 294-291=585 (+9)
9 – East Carolina 292-301=593 (+17)
10 – UNC-Greensboro 300-294=594 (+18)
11 – Florida Southern 299-298=597 (+21)
12 – Princeton 300-301=601 (+25)
13 – Nebraska 311-299=610 (+34)