FRANKLIN, Tenn. – The #9-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores’ men’s golf team staged an impressive comeback on the tournament’s final three holes and came away with their second consecutive Mason Rudolph Championship and their third consecutive victory of the spring with a one-shot win over the Florida Gators Sunday on the Vanderbilt Legends’ Club’s South Course.
The win on the South Course also marked the third time in four years Vanderbilt has claimed their home tournament, and the fourth time overall. The three consecutive wins in a season is the most ever by a Vanderbilt team – the Commodores won the Schenkel Invitational two weeks ago in Statesboro, Ga., and the FarmLinks Collegiate Match Play a week ago in Sylacauga, Ala.
The Gators, who fought back from an early deficit themselves to the Commodores early in the round, held a two-shot led as the teams played their final three holes but could not hold off a surging Vanderbilt team. Vanderbilt counted a one-under total on their final three holes, which included three birdies on 18 from junior Matthias Schwab, and freshmen Patrick Martin and Will Gordon respectively, while the Gators counted a cumulative two-over par.
For the tournament, Vanderbilt had four counting players finish in the top 10, with Schwab leading the way with a three-under par, 210 (67-74-69), which placed him in third. Gordon finished at one-under par, 212 (69-71-72), which tied him for fourth, while sophomore Theo Humphrey finished at even par 213 (71-70-72), which tied him for seventh and Martin ended the tournament in a tie for 10th with a one-over par, 214 (70-76-68). Senior Carson Jacobs, playing as an individual, finished in a tie for fourth with Gordon and Alabama’s Tom Lovelady with a one-under, 212 (70-73-69).
“That was a lot of fun out there today,” said Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh. “I am so pleased with the competitive character the guys showed coming down the stretch. We knew going into the day that it would be tough and we would be pushed. Florida really played great, but we were one shot better this week. Patrick and Matthias both played really well today. As a team we had all five guys in it, which is what you need in a final round. Everyone made big shots coming down the stretch. Today’s experience will help us down the road.”
Florida swept the individual honors with freshman Sam Horsfield winning the individual championship with a seven-under par, 206 total (70-70-66), and fellow freshman Gordon Neale claiming the runner-up spot with a five under, 208 (70-68-70).
The Commodores led the tournament in par four scoring (4.09), pars (169 total), and birdies (51). Individually, Jacobs paced the field in pars (41), while Vanderbilt went one-two in birdies with Schwab registering 13 and Gordon 12 for the weekend.
“We took another good step this week and the good thing is no one is satisfied,” said Limbaugh. “Our focus will be on getting better before we enter the next phase of our season.”
The Commodores will enter the postseason for their next tournament, the SEC Championship, which takes place April 15-17 in Sea Island, Ga.
1. Vanderbilt
3. Matthias Schwab – 67-74-69=210
T4. Will Gordon – 69-71-72=212
T7. Theo Humphrey – 71-70-72=213
T10. Patrick Martin – 70-76-68=214
T42. Michael Decker – 69-80-75=224
Individuals
T4. Carson Jacobs – 70-73-69=212
T24. Zach Herr – 75-73-73=221
T24. John Voetsch – 74-73-74=221
T55. Spencer Ciesla – 78-74-76=228
T62. Zack Jaworski – 74-78-80=232
