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When the fall college golf season ended, David Ford was playing like one of the best amateurs in the world.
In four starts last fall, Ford’s worst finish was T-8, and he won his final two stats at the Ben Hogan Collegiate at Colonial Country Club and North Carolina’s home event, the Williams Cup.
It’s safe to say his form didn’t go anywhere over the holidays.
The 22-year-old senior at North Carolina is tied for the lead at the DP World Tour’s 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic after an opening 7-under 65. He’s tied with David Micheluzzi and Ricardo Gouveia at Emirates Golf Club, beating Jon Rahm by four shots on Thursday and defending tournament champion Rory McIlroy by five.
“It was great,” Ford said. “I got a couple putts to fall that I didn’t know were going to go in hit a lot of good iron shots. I love where the pins were set up today. I felt like a lot of them fit my eye.
“Overall, solid. Definitely missed a few shots and want a few swings back but overall, felt good about it.”
Ford’s round started with a bang, as he made a 39-footer for eagle. He turned in 5 under and added birdies on Nos. 1-2, his 10th and 11th holes of the day. Seven pars later, he signed for a 65 and will sleep on the first-round lead.
Ford, who is a triplet, is in the field at the Dubai Desert Classic thanks to his No. 1 ranking in PGA Tour University, which awards the top senior each year with a PGA Tour card. Last year, Michael Thorbjornsen played in the tournament and finished T-11.
This is the fourth straight year the top player in the standings heading into the spring has earned an exemption.
“I try to keep my expectations low,” Ford said. “I know where my game is at right now and I have got a lot of people around me believing in me which is really helpful going into this week. I just tried to have fun. Just come out here and do the preparation that I do for college events and just keep everything really simple and keep having fun.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Amateur David Ford tied for lead at Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2025
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