There will be multiple Tar Heels among the field of golfers at the U.S. Open later this month. Ryan Gerard, who just completed his fifth and final season competing for Carolina, earned a spot in the event by tying for first place in a qualifier tournament in Jupiter, FL, earlier this week.

Gerard will join teammate Austin Greaser, who qualified for the U.S. Open with his runner-up finish in last summer’s U.S. Amateur Championship, at The Country Club in Brookline, MA. The U.S. Open begins on Thursday, June 16.

Gerard’s 5-under 137 tied for the top spot among a 70-player field in the qualifier, one which included PGA Tour star Rickie Fowler. Gerard tied with with Sean Jacklin of Scotland.

In addition, Gerard was one of four members of the UNC men’s golf program to earn All-America honors from the Golf Coaches Association of America. Gerard was named to the second team, while teammates Greaser, David Ford and Ryan Burnett each received honorable mention nods. It’s the first time four Tar Heels have achieved the feat since 1991. Carolina is one of five programs around the country with four All-Americans.

Originally from Raleigh, Gerard led the Tar Heels with a 70.35 scoring average this past season, the third-best mark in program history. His career stroke average of 71.65 is the fourth-best in Carolina history.

Burnett tied for first in the stroke play portion of the NCAA Championship last week, and his career stroke average of 71.54 is one of only three better than Gerard in UNC history. He finished in the top 10 in three tournaments this season.

David Ford is fresh off winning ACC Freshman of the Year and GCAA All-Freshman honors last week. He tied for fifth behind Burnett at the NCAA Championship (they are the only pair of Tar Heels ever to both finish in the top 5 at the event) and recorded the second-lowest stroke average ever for a Carolina freshman at 70.54.

Greaser had had perhaps the busiest 12 months of any of his teammates, finishing second at the U.S. Amateur last August before joining the Tar Heels for his junior season. Greaser also played at The Masters by virtue of his performance at the U.S. Amateur. While playing for Carolina, Greaser recorded five top 10 finishes, a win at the Fighting Illini Invitational last fall and medalist honors at the Yale Regional of the NCAA Championship.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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