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Dores Ink Nation's Top Class, Again

Men's golf brings in the top signing class in the country for the second year in a row, as the Commodores ink the No. 1- and No. 2-ranked golfers in the Class of 2026

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt men’s golf team celebrated another huge victory early in the National Signing Period, as the Commodores welcome the additions of incoming freshmen Luke Colton and Tyler Mawhinney to give Vandy the No. 1-ranked signing class in the nation for the second-straight season.

The newest pair of Dores come with an abundance of accolades, as Scott Limbaugh, the Thomas F. Roush, M.D. and Family Vanderbilt Men’s Golf Head Coach, and his staff bring the top two golfers in the Class of 2026 to the Music City. Golf Channel ranked Vanderbilt No. 1-ranked in its 2026 signing class rankings. Colton, ranked as the No. 1 golfer in the 2026 class by Golf Channel, and Mawhinney, ranked No. 2 by the AJGA, will begin their Commodore careers in the fall of 2026.

It won’t be the first time that Colton and Mawhinney have teamed up, as the duo were members of Team USA at the 2025 Junior Ryder Cup and the 2024 Junior Presidents Cup. Both are part of the 2025 United States National Junior Team, along with current Commodore freshmen Will Hartman and Michael Riebe.

“I am so excited that Luke and Tyler and their families chose Vanderbilt University and our Vandy golf family,” expressed Limbaugh. “They are two of the best golfers in the world, and I know they will continue to help us pursue our goals of winning SEC and NCAA Championships. They have proven themselves on the highest levels of junior, amateur, and even professional golf, and they are both winners.  I think they were both attracted to a program that truly celebrates team and also strives to help them grow and thrive as athletes and human beings.

“There is a lot of work that goes into having a class like this, and we are thankful for all the support we get from VU to help us attract these two young men. Also, coach Austin Cody and coach Brady Edwards both continue to do a great job identifying and building relationships with these guys.”

It marks the second-straight season that the Commodores have inked the nation’s top signing class. Last year, the signings of Will Hartman, Michael Riebe and Jon Ed Steed gave Vanderbilt the top class in the country. Now freshmen, all three have played a key role in helping the Commodores win three of their four fall tournaments, which helped Vandy conclude the fall season ranked No. 3 in the nation.

Luke Colton | Frisco, Texas | Frisco Wakeland High School
Colton comes to the Music City as the No. 1-ranked golfer in the Class of 2026, according to Golf Channel. The two-time AJGA Rolex First-Team All-American helped Team USA win the 2025 Junior Ryder Cup and the 2024 Junior Presidents Cup. The newest Commodore was a semifinalist at the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur and currently ranks No. 32 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Recently, Colton was invited to the Walker Cup practice session later this month. The newest Commodore has qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship in each of the last three years and finished 33rd in 2025.

The Frisco, Texas, native, who plays left-handed, has twice won at the Terra Cotta Invitational and was the medalist at the 2024 Byron Nelson Junior Championship. Additionally, he was the runner-up at the 2024 AJGA Team TaylorMade Invitational and the 2024 Rolex Tournament of Champions. Colton, who attends Frisco Wakeland High School, is a two-time reigning UIL 5A state champion.

Coach Limbaugh on Colton
“Obviously, as the top-ranked player in 2026, Luke has played with a ton of consistency for a long time. He plays with a lot of confidence and finds a way to get the ball in the hole no matter the circumstances. He is hyper-focused on being the very best he can be and has one of the best short games I’ve ever seen. He is smart and disciplined with a quiet confidence that will certainly carry him a long way in this game.”

Tyler Mawhinney | Fleming Island, Fla. | Fleming Island High School
Mawhinney joins the Commodores as the No. 2-ranked golfer in the Class of 2026, according to the AJGA. The three-time AJGA Rolex All-American helped Team USA win the 2025 Junior Ryder Cup and the 2024 Junior Presidents Cup. Mawhinney teamed up with current Vanderbilt freshman Will Hartman to win the 2025 USGA U.S. Amateur Four Ball title.

The newest Commodore won the 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur to earn an exemption into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, where he made the cut at the PGA TOUR event. Mawhinney was also the medalist at the 2023 Rolex Tournament of Champions and advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship.

The Fleming Island, Florida, native attends Fleming Island High School, where he won the 2023 Florida Class 3A individual state championship. He was named the 2023 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Golf, which goes to the state’s top high school golfer.

Coach Limbaugh on Mawhinney
“Tyler is a perfect fit for our culture, and I know he will flourish in our team environment because he is a leader. Throughout his recruitment, he has been one of the top players in his class and has always had a positive attitude, and is very competitive. When you watch him play, you see a lot of athleticism, speed and toughness, which I love. Also, he has a steady demeanor on the course and will be a rock emotionally, which helps him stay in every round.”

Vanderbilt men’s golf is now on winter break. The Commodores return to action Feb. 16-18, when they open the 2026 spring season at the Watersound Invitational in Panama City, Florida.

For more information and exclusive content on the Vanderbilt men’s golf team, follow @VandyMGolf on Instagram and Twitter/X.

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