Williams Cup: UNC wins the team title, David Ford wins in a playoff

It took extra holes, but David Ford of North Carolina was able to secure the individual victory at the Williams Cup, played at Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, N.C.

Ford shot 66-70 in the first two rounds yesterday to lead after both the first and second rounds but gave up a five-shot lead on the back nine today, making bogeys on four of the last eight holes to shoot 4-over 76.

Nick Gabrelcik of North Florida, like Ford, a former first-team All-America and member of the U.S. Walker Cup team, shot 3-under 69 to hold the clubhouse lead with a 54-hole total of 4-under.

Ford parred No. 18 in regulation, and the two went back to the 505-yard, par-5 No. 18 tee to begin the playoff. Ford hit his approach from 101 yards to eight feet.

Gabrelcik then two-putted for par, and Ford rolled in the 8-footer for his second collegiate win and first since the Jackson T. Stephens Cup at Seminole Golf Club almost one year to the day (Oct. 11, 2022).

Tyler Wilkes of Florida and Dylan Menante and Austin Greaser of North Carolina finished T3 at 2-under.

North Carolina won the team title by 18 strokes over Auburn. The Tar Heels are ranked No. 1 in the country by the coaches and No. 2 by Golfweek, while the Tigers hold the top spot in Golfweek's rankings.

The Tar Heels finished at 11-under, the only school to finish under par. Auburn finished in second place at 7-over, and Arizona State finished in third place at 12-over.