FRANKLIN, Tenn. -The sixth-ranked Vanderbilt men’s golf team led from start to finish to claim the 2015 Mason Rudolph Championship, winning the three-round tournament by 11 shots over Georgia Tech and Alabama, who tied for second, with a final score of 846 (280-287-279) at the Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tenn., Sunday. Senior Hunter Stewart and sophomore Matthias Schwab tied for medalist honors in the tournament, becoming the first Vanderbilt players to win the individual title since Luke List in 2005, with each carding a six-under par, 207.
The tournament win is Vanderbilt’s third at their own Mason Rudolph Championship, with other victories coming in 2012 and 2002. The Commodores also won the team and individual titles in 2002, when Brandt Snedeker claimed medalist honors and Vanderbilt defeated Charleston for the team championship.
The victory was also the team’s first this season after six runner-up finishes, and the sixth team title of the Scott Limbaugh era, which began in the fall of 2012.
“I am extremely proud of how we hung in there today and had all five guys competing,” said Limbaugh. “The guys wanted to take the right step this week towards becoming the team we all know we can be and then went out and did it. We didn’t finish our round yesterday the way we wanted to, but the guys were resilient all day long today and stayed positive and that allowed us to finish strong.
Schwab’s individual title is the second of his career, with the first coming at the 2013 Carmel Cup in Pebble Beach. The sophomore from Vohrmoos, Austria, posted four birdies and no bogeys in his final-round 67 on Sunday. Stewart stormed back to tie Schwab after going four-over in his first four holes by rallying back to birdie six of his last 12. The win was Stewart’s third of the season and fourth of his career, which is now a program-best for individual wins in a career.
The Commodores’ Sunday total of 279 was the tournament’s only under-par round of the day and the low team score of the three-day event. Vanderbilt’s five players carded a combined 19 birdies on Sunday in very breezy conditions, and for the tournament, the Commodores led the 14-team field in par-five scoring (-25), total birdies (47), and eagles (2)
Vanderbilt counted Schwab’s 67, Stewart’s 69, Carson Jacobs’ 70, and a pair of 73s from Theo Humphrey and Zack Jaworski in their 279 Sunday.
“Obviously, Hunter and Matthias were outstanding this weekend,” said Limbaugh. “Hunter battled today after a rough start and showed the kind of competitive character we want to have. Matthias was in control all day and had a bogey-free round in pretty difficult conditions. I told Carson last night to set the tone for the day and he went out there and posted an under-par round which was huge for us.”
Senior Jordan Janico finished in a tie for 14th to lead six Vanderbilt individuals competing in the tournament.
“As a team, we took a step forward today. We learned from past experiences and were able to capitalize on them. I want the guys to enjoy this because I am, but it’s very important as we head into the next phase of our season to focus on getting a little better each day.”
The Commodores will return to the course in two weeks when they travel to Sea Island, Ga., for the SEC Championship.
1. Vanderbilt – 280-287-279=846
T1. Hunter Stewart – 70-68-69=207
T1. Matthias Schwab – 69-71-67=207
T14. Jordan Janico – 70-74-73=217*
16. Theo Humphrey – 69-76-73=218
T19. Zack Jaworski – 72-75-73=220
T19. Carson Jacobs – 77-73-70=220
T43. Michael Decker – 69-76-80=225*
T43. Ben Fogler – 73-81-71=225*
T43. Zachary Herr – 72-77-76=225*
T51. John Voetsch – 73-76-79=228*
T54. Spencer Ciesla – 72-79-78=229*
*Played as an individual
