Men's Golf Moves Up to 4th at Olympia Fields

Saturday, September 21

Olympia Fields, Ill.

All Day

North Carolina

Olympia Fields Fighting Illini Invitational Day Two

September 21, 2019 | Men's Golf

Gerard's 69 in Windy Conditions Leads Tar Heels

By: Steve Kirschner

The University of North Carolina moved up five spots to fourth place after shooting a 7-over-par 287 in windy conditions Saturday in the second round of the Olympia Fields Country Club Invitational.

Carolina and Illinois made the biggest moves of the day, climbing five spots apiece in the second round.

Junior Ryan Gerard shot a 69 to lead the Tar Heels. Ryan Burnett and Austin Hitt both shot 72 and freshmen Austin Greaser and Kenan Poole finished with 74 and 75, respectively.

Burnett, Greaser and Hitt are tied for 19th place after 36 holes at 3-under-par 137s.

Gerard led UNC with five birdies today.

Carolina's 7 over finish today tied the third-lowest round of the day, behind only Baylor's 1 over and Oklahoma State's 5 over rounds. Baylor leads the tournament after 36 holes at 4 over. Georgia Tech dropped one spot to second, a shot behind the Bears. Pepperdine is third at 7 over and UNC is next at plus 13. Host Illinois is fifth, three strokes behind Carolina.

The Tar Heels climbed to fourth place midway through their back nine, but dropped to ninth after playing the final four holes in 10 over, including 5 over on the 18^th hole, which has been the toughest hole on the North Course in each of the first two rounds. The 18^th played almost a full stroke over par today for the entire field. Difficult weather conditions continued to take its toll on the field as the afternoon went on and UNC moved up the standings to fourth heading into Sunday's third and final round.

Oklahoma State's Austin Eckroat is the individual leader at 3 under after a 67 on Saturday. Only six of the 84 players in the field are under par.