Sophomore David Ford of the UNC men’s golf team was red-hot all week at the Stephens Cup golf tournament in Juno Beach, FL, shooting a 16-under 200 in three rounds to win first place at the event. Ford’s effort was part of a winning one for the Tar Heels, who advanced from three rounds of seven-team stroke play to a final-round match with Florida State on Wednesday. Carolina won 3-2, securing its second consecutive tournament win.

Ford, a member of the 2021-22 ACC All-Freshman team, finished four strokes ahead of second place on the individual leaderboard. He shot no worse than 70 each day, and his second round 10-under 62 featured eight consecutive birdies and no bogeys. The round tied UNC’s school record for strokes under par and was one off tying the 18-hole stroke record. It also was a personal record for Ford, whose previous collegiate low was a 64.

Ford’s 16-under par total is the fifth-best in school history, and his 200 total strokes are tied for fifth-fewest in three rounds by a Tar Heel.

Ford’s teammates also played high-level golf. Austin Greaser (tied for fourth), Ryan Burnett (tied for sixth), Peter Fountain (tied for sixth) and Dylan Menante (tied for 10th) each joined Ford in the top 10 of the field, with none shooting worse than a 72 in a single round. 14 of the team’s 15 rounds of stroke play were played under par.

Carolina never fell out of first place during stroke play, and its 821 total strokes tied its season-best and tied for the third-lowest 54-hole score in school history. Its 43-under score to par is second best in school history.

As the top finisher in stroke play, the Tar Heels earned one of two spots in Wednesday’s match-play portion of the event. Florida State, who finished in second place, received the other spot. In a close match, UNC edged the Seminoles on the strength of wins from Greaser, Burnett and a clutch putt from Menante on hole No. 19 (his match had been tied after 18 holes).

The Tar Heels will attempt to make it 3-for-3 in the month of October when they travel to Wilmington to host the Williams Cup (named in honor of former UNC men’s basketball head coach Roy Williams). Carolina won the event last year. The Williams Cup will conclude the men’s golf team’s fall season, and they won’t compete again until February.

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