The UNC men’s golf team finished its run in the 2022 NCAA Championship with a fifth-place finish on Tuesday in Scottsdale, Ariz, at Grayhawk Golf Club.
What happened?
The No. 5 seed men's golf team teed off on Friday, May 26. The Tar Heels got off to a good start as senior Ryan Burnett and first-year David Ford both shot 1-over-par 71s, placing UNC in seventh with a final round of 8-over par 288.
On day two, Burnett had the best stroke of the day, shooting with 1-under 69 to lead UNC. Ford shot an even-par 70 on the day after two doubles bogeys, tying for ninth. He also led UNC in birdies for the second straight day, with five on day two. Fifth-year senior Ryan Gerard’s stroke play led him to an even-par 70 like teammate Ford, and tied him for eighth.
On day three, Burnett and Gerard each shot another even-par 70, and UNC stood solidly at fourth place overall with a total score of 849. Burnett, Ford, and junior Austin Greaser were named to the 2022 PING All-East Region at the end of stroke play on the day. Burnett also moved 1-under on hole 10 for the championship.
On Monday, the fourth day of stroke play, UNC advanced to NCAA quarterfinals match. Burnett finished the day in a four-way tie and replayed the 18 hole for the individual championship, but he was out-stroked by Vanderbilt’s Gordon Sargent with a birdie on the par-4 hole. Burnett finished on the day tied at second and Ford tied at fifth. The lowest stroke on the day came from Greaser 1-under 69.
In the semifinals of match play against the defending champions, the No. 6 seed Pepperdine Waves, Ford won his match against senior Joe Highsmith while Greaser beat junior William Mouw.
The Tar Heels lost in a 3-2-0 match.
Who stood out?
