SEA ISLAND, Ga. – The Vanderbilt men’s golf team finished in front of four top 25 teams and registered its best finish at the SEC Championship on Sunday since 2007 when the Commodores ended the event in a tie for seventh place with Missouri with a final total of 875 (295-282-298).
Sophomore Ben Fogler was Vanderbilt’s top finisher with a three-round score of 218 (74-72-72), and was propelled 11 places up on the leader board from his second round position into a tie for 20th with his final-round 72.
“I’m really proud of how the guys competed today,” said Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh. “Obviously, Ben and Hunter played really well in tough conditions. All we talked about this week was sticking to our game plan and focusing on the right and meaningful things, and I think we did that.
“This was a really good week for our program. I am proud of this team and excited for the opportunities they have created for themselves with the NCAA regionals. We know what we need to work on and that’s where our focus will be for the next few weeks.”
Vanderbilt’s seventh-place standing was better than 13th-ranked Georgia, 15th-ranked LSU, ninth-ranked Florida, and 23rd-ranked Tennessee. The finish marked the first time in the Commodores’ 73-year history of the championship that they have finished in front of the Gators or the Bulldogs, and the four teams have 61 career SEC Championships to their credit. The 2013 result ties for VU’s third-best finish at the event (2007), behind a pair of fourth-place finishes in 2002 and 2004, respectively.
Sophomore Hunter Stewart carded a three-over, 73, in his final round at the Seaside Course, while junior Charlie Ewing shot a 76, sophomore Jordan Janico a 77, and freshman Zack Jaworski a 79.
Alabama won its third SEC Championship since 2008, defeating South Carolina by two strokes. Sebastian Cappelen of Arkansas fired a four-under 66 on Sunday to capture medalist honors over South Carolina’s Caleb Sturgeon.
The Commodores’ next outing will be the NCAA Regionals, which takes place May 16-18 at various sites through the country. Vanderbilt will find out its regional destination on May 6 with the NCAA.com Selection Show.
T-7. Vanderbilt – 295-282-298=875
T20. Ben Fogler – 74-72-72=218
T23. Hunter Stewart – 74-72-73=219
T27. Zack Jaworski – 71-70-79=220
T31. Charlie Ewing – 77-68-76=221
T52. Jordan Janico – 76-73-77=226
