Back at the Linger

Commodores in Georgia for three-day tournament

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt will be looking to end the month of March on a high note when it tees off at the Linger Longer Invitational in Eatonton, Georgia, on Sunday.

Vandy will be taking part in the familiar three-day, 54-hole tournament and will be looking to win an unprecedented fifth consecutive event.

The Commodores come into the week having won a program-record five regular-season tournaments and 11 of 15 events since the start of February 2022. Vandy is coming off a victory March 7 at the Cabo Collegiate, the second season in a row it has captured that tournament title.

This week the quintet of Gordon Sargent, Matthew Riedel, Cole Sherwood, Reid Davenport and Wells Williams will be looking to conquer the Great Waters Golf Course, a par 72 over 7,436 yards. Jackson Van Paris and William Moll will be competing as individuals

“It was good to give everyone a couple of days off so hopefully they feel refreshed and excited to continue our climb together,” Vandy head coach Scott Limbaugh said. “We are growing as a team and I believe it’s so important for us to continue to stick together, learn from our mistakes and have fun. Success can sometimes make people believe that we can cut corners and not do things up to the standard that has been set. In my opinion, that is not what elite competitors think about and that’s not what we need to be thinking about.

“There is another level we can get to mentally and that should be the goal because I know when we take the right approach mentally, regardless of where we are physically, we are a really good team.  I told the guys that we have to want it more than we fear it.”

Alabama, Arkansas, Augusta, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, North Carolina Greensboro, Ken­nesaw State, Mercer, South Alabama, South Florida, Virginia and Wofford will join Vandy in the 16-team field. The Commodores are scheduled to tee off 9:40 a.m. Sunday alongside Georgia, Mercer and host Kennesaw State.

In 2022, Vanderbilt finished second at the event, four strokes back of Georgia. Sargent and Sherwood tied for fourth place at 7-under-par.

“This is another fun trip for our team and our guys really like Great Waters and we appreciate all the effort that goes into putting on a great event.”

Sargent, Williams, Sherwood in Palmer Cup Rankings

Vandy had three representatives listed on the March 16 Palmer Cup Rankings.

Sargent was tabbed on the No. 1 player on the list while Williams checked in at No. 3 overall. Sherwood was slotted at 20th out of 25 players.

The top six golfers from the spring’s final ranking from both the United States and International men and women shall be among the individuals selected to compete in the Palmer Cup which will be hosted by Laurel Valley Golf Club on June 8-10.

Using Golfstat’s NCAA Player Ranking as a base, the Palmer Cup Ranking awards bonus points for wins and high finishes and a penalty for poor finishes. The ranking also contains a strength of schedule component.

The remaining six spots for the United States will consist of five committee picks, including at least one non-Division I golfer and a coaches pick. The balance of the International team also includes five committee selections, including at least one representative from The R&A Student Tour Series, and a coaches pick.