FRANKLIN, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt men’s golf team surged to second place in the final team standings at the NCAA Franklin Regional after scorching the Vanderbilt Legends Club’s North Course Wednesday with a 20-under par, 268, to advance to the NCAA Championship in Eugene, Oregon, May 27-June 1. The Commodores finished with a final total of 34-under par, 830 (285-277-268).
The trip to Eugene will mark the Commodores’ third consecutive trip to the national championship, the first time in the history of the program that Vanderbilt has accomplished that feat.
The Commodores, who entered Wednesday’s play in fourth place, started slow in their final round, combining to count a one-over par total through their first four hotels. However, in their final 15 holes, Vanderbilt carded 27 birdies and ended the round counting two 66’s from junior Matthias Schwab and freshman Will Gordon, respectively, a 67 from freshman Patrick Martin, and a 69 from sophomore Theo Humphrey. Vanderbilt’s 20-under, 268, tied team champion Texas for the low round of the tournament.
For the week, Vanderbilt led all teams with 74 birdies, with Humphrey leading the way with 17. Patrick Martin carded 16, while Gordon and Schwab accumulated 15 birdies apiece.
Humphrey paced Vanderbilt for the week and was the team’s top finisher, ending the event in fourth on the individual scoreboard. Martin and Gordon each finished in a tie for ninth, Schwab ended the three days in a tie for 14th, and senior Carson Jacobs ended the tournament in a tie for 39th.
The Commodores joined the Longhorns, who finished with a 45-under, 819 (268-271-280), Houston and LSU, who each finished third with an 839 total, and fifth-place Virginia, who used a birdie from Jimmy Stanger on the 18th and final hole to defeat Washington by one shot, to advance to the national championship.
“Overall, it was just a very special day for our guys to do it in front of our home fans and in front of so many people who support us,” said Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh. “It was a big step for our program today, and a big step for our team when we needed it. We kept talking about staying patient and taking steps all week and all year. We had an average round on Monday the first day, guys stayed patient, played better yesterday and finished strong, and then today, I think we played the last five holes at 13-under par that we counted. And that’s what we pride ourselves on – as being the strongest at the end. Today was just an unbelievable day.”
Individually, Houston’s Michael Perras of Houston won medalist honors with a 16-under par, 200 (65-69-66), two strokes in front of Doug Ghim of Texas and Ryan Cole of James Madison. Cole advances to Eugene as the top individual not affiliated with the top five qualifying teams.
The national championship begins on Friday, May 27, with three rounds of stroke play, followed by a fourth round of stroke play Monday, May 30, for the top 15 teams. The top eight teams then move on to match play, which begins Tuesday, May 31.
2. Vanderbilt – 285-277-268=830
4. Theo Humphrey – 70-66-69=205
T9. Patrick Martin – 70-71-67=208
T9. Will Gordon – 72-70-66=208
T14. Matthias Schwab – 73-70-66=209
T39. Carson Jacobs – 73-71-72=216
