NAPLES, Fla. – The fifth-ranked Vanderbilt men’s golf team finished in second place with a final score of 10-under par, 842 (276-284-282), four strokes back of team champion LSU at the Talis Park Challenge in Naples, Fla., on Monday. Senior Hunter Stewart, who carded a team-best 69 on Monday, was Vanderbilt’s best finisher of the week, finishing in a tie for second with a final score of five-under, 208 (69-71-68).
The runner-up finish was the Commodores’ fifth of the season, and Stewart’s finish was his third top five finish of the season and 19th top ten of his career. Sophomore Matthias Schwab finished in a tie for fifth with a total of 209 (66-71-72) and freshman Theo Humphrey carded a 211 (69-70-72) to finish in a tie for 10th.
“I think every time you have an opportunity like we had today, it’s always a chance to learn and grow individually and as a team,” said Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh. “We played good golf today, but we did not play winning golf. We didn’t do all the simple things at a high enough level to beat another good team.
“Hunter played another really solid tournament for us and Matthias has gotten better each time out this spring. We had three guys in the top ten individually.”
Chris Selfridge of Toledo won medalist honors with a six-under par, 207, and finished one stroke ahead of Stewart, Adria Arnaus of Texas A&M, and Korey Ward of Xavier.
“We are showing signs every time out of being a great team and that is so encouraging,” said Limbaugh. “When things get hard like it did today, that is when we have to execute all the simple things we practice and talk about everyday. I continue to be very encouraged about the steps we are taking, but we have to learn from our mistakes. I am looking forward to another chance to get right back out and compete this weekend.”
Vanderbilt returns to the course March 20-22 at the Schenkel Invitational in Statesboro, Ga.
2. Vanderbilt – 276-284-282=842
T2. Hunter Stewart – 69-71-68=208
T5. Matthias Schwab – 66-71-72=209
T10. Theo Humphrey – 69-70-72=211
T20. Carson Jacobs – 72-73-70=215
T34. Ben Fogler 73-72-74=219
T40. Spencer Ciesla – 75-74-71=220*
*Individual
