STATESBORO, Ga. – The number-15 ranked Commodore men’s golf team stormed to second place with a stellar performance on the last three holes in the first round of the Schenkel Invitational in Statesboro, Ga., and are in a tie for second with Georgia State with a first-round total of 14-under par, 274 at the Forest Heights Country Club.
Vanderbilt and Georgia State each trail team leader Wake Forest by four shots heading into the second round Saturday.
The Commodores, who counted 19 birdies and an eagle in their first round, stormed through the team standings on the back nine at Forest Heights, and especially on the final three holes. Junior Matthias Schwab was four under-par on his last nine holes and two-under on his last three, freshman Patrick Martin was three-under on the back nine and counted a birdie and an eagle on 18 in his final three holes, and fellow freshman Will Gordon had two birdies coming on 12 and 18, with no bogeys on the final nine holes.
“It was fun watching the guys play today,” said Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh. “I think they did a great job of staying in the moment and playing free. Patrick certainly showed a lot of character after he made a triple on the sixth hole. That’s the type of resiliency we want to have. Will played real solid with no bogeys and Matthias stayed patient on the front and that allowed him to play great coming in. It was a really good team day and we had all five players in it the entire round which played a big role in the way we finished today. We need to continue to understand how the course is playing, and take another good step tomorrow.”
Gordon led the way for Vanderbilt with a five-under 67, which ties him for sixth individually. Martin tallied a four-under par, 68, and is in a tie for eighth, Schwab carded a three-under 69 (T-21), and sophomore Theo Humphrey ended the day with a two-under par, 70 (T-27).
Individually, David Womble of Wake Forest shot a 64 to lead all individuals. He has a two-shot lead on four players after day one.
The Commodores will begin round two at 9:30 CT on the number one tee at Forest Heights.
T2. Vanderbilt – 274
T6. Will Gordon – 67
T8. Patrick Martin – 68
T21. Matthias Schwab – 69
T27. Theo Humphrey – 70
T46. Carson Jacobs – 72
T46. Michael Decker – 72*
*Individual
