Cincinnati rallies in second round to capture Johnnie-O at Sea Island

March 19, 2025 | by Cameron Spraggins of AmateurGolf.com

Gunnar Broin (Kansas Athletics Photo)

Bearcats bounce back with tournament-low final round to claw out one-stroke victory while Gunnar Broin claimed his first win

The University of Cincinnati Bearcats staged a dramatic second-round comeback to secure their first victory of 2025, winning the 2025 Johnnie-O at Sea Island in St. Simons Island, Georgia.

The final round was canceled due to high winds, so the tournament concluded after 36 holes, with the Bearcats narrowly edging out Florida Gulf Coast (FGCU) and Marquette by one stroke. Cincinnati opened with a disappointing 288 (+8) but responded with a stellar tournament-low nine-under 271 in the second round, finishing at one-under 559 to claim the title.

FGCU posted rounds of 284-276 (E), while Marquette recorded back-to-back rounds of 280 (E), both finishing at 560 (E). UNC Greensboro (562, +2) secured fourth place, while Kansas and Nebraska tied for fifth at 564 (+4).

Cincinnati’s victory was built on consistency rather than dominance in any one category. The Bearcats led the field in par-4 scoring, finishing one shot ahead of Marquette, but ranked third in par-3 scoring and eighth in par-5 scoring. They made 30 birdies, fourth-most in the field (FGCU led with 35), and 119 pars, also fourth-most (Georgia Southern led with 125). Only Rutgers and UNCG recorded fewer bogeys than Cincinnati.

"I'm so proud of this group today," head coach Doug Martin told David Cohen of UC Athletics. "Yesterday was an extremely tough day with crazy high winds that resulted in an eight-hour suspension of play. When play resumed, we managed to complete 12 holes in extremely challenging conditions.

"Coming back today, we had to finish six more holes to wrap up the first round. After that, the tournament was shortened to 36 holes. We didn’t start the final round particularly well, but the team stayed its course and displayed amazing patience.

"I can honestly say I have never seen such a comeback in all my years of coaching. This gives us a lot to build on."

Kansas senior Gunnar Broin claimed individual honors, posting rounds of 68-64 (-8) to edge out Rutgers' Noah Kumar (68-65, -7) by a single stroke. Broin made nine birdies and just one bogey over 36 holes, with his bogey-free final-round 64 securing the title.

Max Lyons (Marquette) finished solo third at six-under (65-69), while Nolan Harper (FGCU, 72-65) and Alex Creamean (Penn State, 70-67) tied for fourth at three-under. Kumar led the field with 10 birdies, while Broin was the tournament’s most efficient player, recording the fewest bogeys (one).

This victory marks Broin's first collegiate win. He is one of the most talented players in college golf. He previously qualified for the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, where he made the cut, and also advanced to match play at the 2024 U.S. Amateur, losing in the first round to eventual semifinalist Luis Masaveu.

Broin is currently ranked No. 68 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Rankings.

Results: The Johnnie-O

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Gunnar Broin	Chanhassen, MN	600	68-64=132
2	Noah Kumar	Sarasota, FL	400	68-65=133
3	Max Lyons	Phoenix, AZ	300	65-69=134
4	Nolan Harper	St. Augustine, FL	300	72-65=137
4	Alexander Creamean	Winnetka, IL	300	70-67=137