TicketsCINCINNATI – Junior Ryan Ford claimed the first tournament title of his stellar career, and the Cincinnati men's golf team played an even-par final round Tuesday to finish second at its Bearcat Invitational at Coldstream Country Club.
Ford shared the title with Louisville's Sebastian Moss with a 6-under 207. On his back nine, he double-bogeyed Nos. 11 and 14 before birdies on No. 16 and 18 to finish strong. Those two holes were his only blemishes, as he was 4-under for the other 16.
"I was in between clubs on my second shot, and it was between a pitching wedge or a gap wedge," Ford said of the final hole. "I talked to Coach (Austin) Frick through it, and we went through the pitching wedge that got us within four feet. I knew I at least tied, but I didn't know how it was gonna pan out at the end.
"It felt good to finally get it done," he said of his first title. "I had a lot of close calls before and tough finishes down the stretch. I had to hit a good drive to start with, and I thankfully did that."
Ford entered with four top-3 finishes in his career before breaking through for the hardware. It marks the first Cincinnati individual victory since Ty Gingerich won the Big 12 Championship in April.
Cole Imig was exceptional for all three rounds this week, tying for 10th after playing to par Tuesday. It was a career-best performance for the junior, who played his freshman season at UAB.
Michael Senn III, Rylan Wotherspoon and Connor McNeely all saved their best rounds for last, with Senn tying for 17th. He tied for 21st in the season-opening Visit Knoxville Intercollegiate.
"Anytime you're playing at home, you want to have a chance to win," head coach Doug Martin said. "We certainly put ourselves in position throughout the round today. Louisville is, if not top-20, a top-25 team. Anytime you have a chance to win, that's where you wanna be every week. Going through this experience today, where every shot means something, will hopefully help us as we go through the season."
Cincinnati returns to action for Duke's Rod Myers Invitational on Sunday and Monday.
Cincinnati Team Scores
T1. Ryan Ford (65-71-71=207)
T10. Cole Imig (72-70-71=213)
T17. Michael Senn III (72-73-70=215)
T36. Rylan Wotherspoon (76-72-71=219)
T60. Connor McNeely (74-75-73=222)
Cincinnati Individual Scores
T54. Leo Wessel (73-73-75=221)
T67. William McDonald (72-76-75=223)
T76. Harrison Sims (74-72-78=224)
T83. Harry Satterlee (73-77-77=227)
93. McKean Collins (76-79-81=236)
Team Scores
1. Louisville (846)
2. Cincinnati (852)
3. Kansas (855)
4. BYU (858)
T5. Iowa State (860)
T5. Furman (860)
7. Augusta (863)
T8. Middle Tennessee (867)
T8. Little Rock (867)
T8. Florida Gulf Coast (867)
11. Kentucky (869)
12. Sam Houston (872)
T13. UNC Greensboro (873)
T13. Memphis (873)
15. Chattanooga (879)
16. Illinois State (884)
17. UCF (889)
18. Southern Miss (892)
Ford shared the title with Louisville's Sebastian Moss with a 6-under 207. On his back nine, he double-bogeyed Nos. 11 and 14 before birdies on No. 16 and 18 to finish strong. Those two holes were his only blemishes, as he was 4-under for the other 16.
"I was in between clubs on my second shot, and it was between a pitching wedge or a gap wedge," Ford said of the final hole. "I talked to Coach (Austin) Frick through it, and we went through the pitching wedge that got us within four feet. I knew I at least tied, but I didn't know how it was gonna pan out at the end.
"It felt good to finally get it done," he said of his first title. "I had a lot of close calls before and tough finishes down the stretch. I had to hit a good drive to start with, and I thankfully did that."
Ford entered with four top-3 finishes in his career before breaking through for the hardware. It marks the first Cincinnati individual victory since Ty Gingerich won the Big 12 Championship in April.
Cole Imig was exceptional for all three rounds this week, tying for 10th after playing to par Tuesday. It was a career-best performance for the junior, who played his freshman season at UAB.
Michael Senn III, Rylan Wotherspoon and Connor McNeely all saved their best rounds for last, with Senn tying for 17th. He tied for 21st in the season-opening Visit Knoxville Intercollegiate.
"Anytime you're playing at home, you want to have a chance to win," head coach Doug Martin said. "We certainly put ourselves in position throughout the round today. Louisville is, if not top-20, a top-25 team. Anytime you have a chance to win, that's where you wanna be every week. Going through this experience today, where every shot means something, will hopefully help us as we go through the season."
Cincinnati returns to action for Duke's Rod Myers Invitational on Sunday and Monday.
Cincinnati Team Scores
T1. Ryan Ford (65-71-71=207)
T10. Cole Imig (72-70-71=213)
T17. Michael Senn III (72-73-70=215)
T36. Rylan Wotherspoon (76-72-71=219)
T60. Connor McNeely (74-75-73=222)
Cincinnati Individual Scores
T54. Leo Wessel (73-73-75=221)
T67. William McDonald (72-76-75=223)
T76. Harrison Sims (74-72-78=224)
T83. Harry Satterlee (73-77-77=227)
93. McKean Collins (76-79-81=236)
Team Scores
1. Louisville (846)
2. Cincinnati (852)
3. Kansas (855)
4. BYU (858)
T5. Iowa State (860)
T5. Furman (860)
7. Augusta (863)
T8. Middle Tennessee (867)
T8. Little Rock (867)
T8. Florida Gulf Coast (867)
11. Kentucky (869)
12. Sam Houston (872)
T13. UNC Greensboro (873)
T13. Memphis (873)
15. Chattanooga (879)
16. Illinois State (884)
17. UCF (889)
18. Southern Miss (892)