The Cincinnati Bearcats men's golf team is packing their bags for Texas. For the first time since 2023, the squad has earned a spot in an NCAA Regional, set to take place May 18-20 at The Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas.
This is a big moment for the program. Only the top five teams and the low individual from each regional will advance to the championship finals. Those finals will be held May 29-June 3 at the prestigious Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California, where 30 teams and six individuals will compete for the national title.
"You start every year with a goal of playing in the postseason," said head coach Doug Martin. "I look back to 20 years ago when we started this thing and all the players who have played for me. This is a day that comes from a lot of hard work from a lot of people. It's an exciting day for our university, athletic department, administration, donors, and everybody who supports us. It's a day for them to celebrate but, over the next week or so, it's about us getting in the right mindset to go there and compete."
The Bearcats have been building toward this moment. This marks just the second NCAA appearance for the program, following an eighth-place finish at the Las Vegas Regional in 2023. Two current players, Ryan Ford and Rylan Wotherspoon, were freshmen on that team and gained valuable postseason experience.
This season, Cincinnati has been sharp, posting five top-five team finishes and winning the Bearcat Invitational back in September. Leading the charge is Ford, who boasts a team-best 70.15 scoring average with four top-10 finishes and has placed inside the top 20 in all 11 tournaments. Sophomore Leo Wessel and senior Connor McNeely have also been steady, playing every event with averages of 72.00 and 73.27, respectively. Freshman Brayden Miller has impressed as well, ranking third on the team with a 72.06 stroke average while playing in 10 of 11 tournaments.
The Bearcats won't be the only Ohio team in the field—the Miami RedHawks will also be competing in the same regional, adding a touch of local rivalry to the Texas showdown.
With a mix of experienced returners and rising talent, Cincinnati is ready to make some noise. Now it's all about getting into the right mindset and teeing it up when it matters most.