PAUMA VALLEY, Calif. — The No. 3-ranked Vanderbilt men’s golf returns to Nashville as winners of the inaugural Pauma Valley Invitational, as the Dores carded 20-under 832 over three rounds of play at the Pauma Valley Country Club.
It is the fifth win of the season for the Commodores, while it is Vandy’s second team victory of the spring. All six golfers finished inside the top 25 individually.
“What an awesome team win, I am so proud of the guys and how they competed,” said Vanderbilt men’s golf head coach Scott Limbaugh. “We talked about wanting to make a statement this week and the guys embraced that. It’s great to come to a new tournament and get uncomfortable, because that helps us grow. It was a total team effort with five golfers finishing in the top twelve. Cole had another really good week and I’m proud of Wells for bouncing back. Also, William did a great job hanging tough today while not feeling well. Obviously, we have six talented players and I see that as a great advantage. It helps keeps us sharp and hungry. It was a good step this week and will help us moving forward. We have a quick turnaround and our goal is to keep growing and focusing on improving.”
One of only a few squads to complete both rounds on Monday, Vandy entered the clubhouse at dusk at the end of Round 2 leading the field at 15-under par over 36 holes. On Tuesday, the Dores never faltered, pulling away from second-place Oklahoma State over the final round on the back of 21 third-round birdies. Vanderbilt carded a 20-under par total over the tournament’s 54 holes, taking the title with an eight-stroke margin over second-place San Diego.
2023 Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational champion Cole Sherwood led the way for the Commodores, notching a 4-under final round to finish fourth place overall. Tuesday was his best round of the week for the All-American after he opened the tournament at 2-under 69 in Round 1 and carded even-par 71. Sherwood led all golfers this week in par-3 scoring. On Tuesday, the senior holed five birdies on his way to his fourth top-5 finish of the season. Sherwood was one of three Commodores to collect 14 birdies at the Pauma Valley Invitational, as he was joined by Wells Williams and William Moll.
Junior Gordon Sargent was the third Commodore to place inside the top 10 at the Pauma Valley Invitational, as he finished tied for eighth at 3-under par total over 54 holes. This event is his fourth top-10 finish this season.
Junior Jackson Van Paris and graduate student Matthew Riedel both tied for twelfth overall at Pauma Valley Country Club with 2-under-par totals. Van Paris opened the tournament with an even par round and followed that with a 3-under 68 to complete Monday. He ended Round 3 1-over par 72 with a birdie on hole No. 18. Riedel shot a 4-under 67 and 2-over 73 on Monday before finishing the event at even-par 71 in the third round, adding three birdies to his tournament total of 11 on the final back nine.
Graduate student Wiliam Moll nailed five birdies on the front nine during his final round on Tuesday. The Houston, Texas, native bookended his tournament performance with opening and closing 2-under-par 71 rounds. Tying for 22nd individually, Moll rounds out the group of Commodores who competed this week.
The No. 3-ranked Commodores return to action Monday, as Vanderbilt heads to Palm City, Florida, to play in the Valspar Collegiate Invitational. Check back with VUCommodores.com for a full tournament preview.
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