Many of the distinguished members at Seminole Golf Club were all asking themselves the same question on Monday after North Carolina’s David Ford ran off eight consecutive birdies en route to carding a 10-under 62 in the second round of the Jackson T. Stephens Cup being played at the esteemed course in Juno Beach, Fla.
“Has anyone done that here before?”
Maybe Ben Hogan did it on one of his many trips to Seminole while he prepared for the Masters.
Or perhaps Seminole head professional Claude Harmon had the same birdie run when he set the course record by shooting a 12-under 60 in the 1947 Pro-Member.
Nobody seems to know, but one thing is for sure: David Ford etched his name in Seminole lore on Monday at The Stephens Cup.
After shooting a 68 in the morning to help the Tar Heels to a seven-stroke lead after the opening round, the left-hander from Peachtree Corners, Georgia, was going along nicely at 2-under through eight holes of his second round. Not even the ultra-confident Ford could have imagined what was about to occur after he birdied Seminole’s par-5, 545-yard ninth hole.
What transpired in the late afternoon sun on the shores of Juno Beach will certainly be talked about for years to come.
He followed his birdie on the ninth with seven consecutive birdies on hole Nos. 10-16 on his inward nine to move to 10-under on his round. After a 25-foot birdie putt on Seminole’s par-4, 410-yard 16th hole resulted in his eighth straight birdie, Ford unsuccessfully tried to suppress a grin as he as sheepishly pulled the brim of his cap over his eyes in disbelief.
With Harmon’s 65-year-old record within reach, Ford settled for pars on his final two holes for a round of 62.
At 14-under 130, he holds the 36-hole lead over Brett Roberts of Florida State, who is at 8-under following rounds of 69-68. Arkansas’ Julian Perico was at 8-under when play was suspended.
Absolutely dialed. @UNCmensGolf’s David Ford fires a -10 (62) during round two.
It’s the low round of the week and he holds the lead on the men’s side. #JTSCup pic.twitter.com/B7aH50qNTI
— Jackson T. Stephens Cup (@TheStephensCup) October 11, 2022
“This one might be the best round I’ve ever played just considering how nervous I was,” Ford told the Golf Channel. “I had a lot of long waits out on the course, there were some rulings in front of me, so I had a lot of time to think, and I think I handled myself and the nerves well and got a low score out of it.”
Tuesday’s third round will be televised by Golf Channel from 3-6 p.m.
The top four teams after Tuesday’s third round of stroke play advance to match play on Wednesday.
For more on the story, here’s a link to coverage from our partners at AmateurGolf.com.