TicketsST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Cincinnati sophomore Ryan Ford tied a school-record 64 for the second-straight season in the first round of the Johnnie-O at Sea Island, and Cincinnati is second after the first 36 holes.
Ford's 8-under score matched his opening round at last April's Mossy Oak Collegiate in Mississippi. The last-such feat before that was Clay Amlung in 2022.
Connor McNeely emerged as the team's top performer to tie for third heading into Tuesday. Ty Gingerich's five second-round birdies allowed him to move into ninth.
Rylan Wotherspoon eagled the No. 1 hole in the first round as well.
"Today was a day of mixed emotions," head coach Doug Martin said. "I'm extremely proud of the way Ryan, Connor and Ty played in the morning. The afternoon was a hard fought 4-under."
Notre Dame's 17-stroke improvement led to a meteoric rise into the top spot. Tuesday's final round can be followed here.
"I thought we missed an opportunity to extend the lead after the morning," Martin said. "We will learn from this and be better when the next opportunity comes. We continued to make some errors that frustrate me as a coach. We have players that can do what I am asking. When we put it all together good things will happen and the game will feel simpler. Tomorrow is a new day for us to learn and continue growing as a team and program."
Cincinnati Scores
T4. Connor McNeely (68-70=138)
T9. Ty Gingerich (71-69=140)
T15. Ryan Ford (64-78=142)
T49. Rylan Wotherspoon (75-72=147)
T58. William McDonald (75-73=148)
Team Leaderboard
1. Notre Dame (557)
2. Cincinnati (562)
T3. Texas (563)
T3. Michigan State (563)
5. UNC Greensboro (567)
6. Illinois (571)
T7. Rutgers (572)
T7. Nebraska (572)
9. Minnesota (576)
10. Kansas (578)
11. Augusta (579)
12. Penn State (580)
13. Kansas State (584)
14. Marquette (587)
Ford's 8-under score matched his opening round at last April's Mossy Oak Collegiate in Mississippi. The last-such feat before that was Clay Amlung in 2022.
Connor McNeely emerged as the team's top performer to tie for third heading into Tuesday. Ty Gingerich's five second-round birdies allowed him to move into ninth.
Rylan Wotherspoon eagled the No. 1 hole in the first round as well.
"Today was a day of mixed emotions," head coach Doug Martin said. "I'm extremely proud of the way Ryan, Connor and Ty played in the morning. The afternoon was a hard fought 4-under."
Notre Dame's 17-stroke improvement led to a meteoric rise into the top spot. Tuesday's final round can be followed here.
"I thought we missed an opportunity to extend the lead after the morning," Martin said. "We will learn from this and be better when the next opportunity comes. We continued to make some errors that frustrate me as a coach. We have players that can do what I am asking. When we put it all together good things will happen and the game will feel simpler. Tomorrow is a new day for us to learn and continue growing as a team and program."
Cincinnati Scores
T4. Connor McNeely (68-70=138)
T9. Ty Gingerich (71-69=140)
T15. Ryan Ford (64-78=142)
T49. Rylan Wotherspoon (75-72=147)
T58. William McDonald (75-73=148)
Team Leaderboard
1. Notre Dame (557)
2. Cincinnati (562)
T3. Texas (563)
T3. Michigan State (563)
5. UNC Greensboro (567)
6. Illinois (571)
T7. Rutgers (572)
T7. Nebraska (572)
9. Minnesota (576)
10. Kansas (578)
11. Augusta (579)
12. Penn State (580)
13. Kansas State (584)
14. Marquette (587)