Downes' Record-Setting Round

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Vanderbilt men’s golf freshman Ryan Downes tied the program record for the lowest 18-hole score in program history, as he finished Round 1 of the 2025 Mason Rudolph Championship at 10-under 61.

Downes carded par or better on each of his first 18 holes of play at the Mason Rudolph Championship, as he collected 10 birdies in Round 1. The Longmeadow, Massachusetts, native’s score of 10-under 61 matches the program record for the lowest 18-hole total and vs. par scores.

The freshman matches Cole Sherwood’s 18-hole total program record of 61, which was set at the 2022 Cabo Collegiate. Downes’ 10-under also gave him a share of the program’s lowest 18-hole score vs. par with Sherwood, who went 10-under in Cabo, and Gordon Sargent, who carded 10-under at the 2021 Frederica Cup.

“I’m really proud of Ryan on his performance today,” said Thomas F. Roush, M.D., and Family Vanderbilt Men’s Golf Head Coach Scott Limbaugh. “Sometimes with freshmen, it just takes some time. I’m proud of him and the way he has taken ownership of the things our coaches have asked him to do. He is really starting to take off. He played great in qualifying this week and I’m super excited for him to have a moment like that. Our team needed that and we needed someone to give us that boost.”

Vanderbilt concluded the first round of the 2025 Mason Rudolph Championship in first place, as the Commodores carded a season-low 16-under 268. Vandy had three golfers finish at 2-under or better in Round 1.

“It was an awesome first round and we had some guys really step up and lift the team up,” expressed Limbaugh. “Obviously Ryan Downes shooting a 61 was huge and Wells Williams looked strong out there today. Also, I’m really proud of Jackson for hanging in there all day. We were missing a fourth scorer this morning, but everybody was in it this afternoon and that’s great to see. We still got a lot of golf to play.”

Junior Wells Williams also rewrote the Vanderbilt men’s golf record book on Friday, as he ended Round 1 with a personal-best 18-hole score of 8-under 63 to tie for the fifth-lowest 18-hole total in program history.  Williams’ 8-under on Friday is tied for the 11th-lowest round score vs. par. The West Point, Mississippi, native collected an eagle on Hole 13 and posted seven birdies in Round 1.

Senior Jackson Van Paris also went under par for Vanderbilt in Round 1 of the Mason Rudolph Championship, as he went 2-under 69. Freshman Bowen Ballis, who is one of four Commodores playing as an individual at the Mason Rudolph, concluded his opening round at 1-under 70.

Round 2 of the Mason Rudolph Championship got underway on Friday immediately after Round 1. Play was suspended in the middle of the round and will resume on Saturday at 8 a.m. Fans can follow all of Saturday’s action at GolfStat.com.

“This is the kind of field where you’re going to have to keep the pedal down,” Limbaugh stated. “It’s going to be pretty windy tomorrow, but there are great teams and great players in this tournament. We have that potential, but it’s going to be a great day for us tomorrow and a great opportunity. I just want us to compete and be excited. I expect our guys to come out and be ready to play. You can’t expect anyone to trip up at the finish line, you’ve got to take what you want.”

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