PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Vanderbilt closed out the John Hayt Invitational in style Monday en route to its third team championship of the season and ninth team title since the start of the 2022 spring season.
Vandy finished 28-under-par, 16 shots better than North Florida, and was 9-under-par for the day—one of just two teams to shoot under-par Monday. The team’s 279 total was the best round of the day.
“What an awesome effort this week by our team,” Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh said. “They had a mindset of coming out today and finishing the right way and having the low round and we did that. It’s not easy to do something that everyone else thinks may be easy and it requires having the right focus on the right things. We had all five guys in it all week and to have four guys finish in the top eight is pretty cool.”
Gordon Sargent, the defending national champion, also captured his fourth career collegiate individual title with a three-round total of 201. He shot 15-under-par for the tournament.
Sargent made eight birdies Monday, 19 birdies for the tournament and had an eagle during Sunday’s second round.
“Gordon is playing awesome golf and I am so proud of how he finished that round today,” Limbaugh said. “He has such high demands for himself and that really helps set a standard for everyone.”
Every Commodore finished even-par or better Monday, led by Sargent’s 68. Matthew Riedel and Cole Sherwood each fired a 70 while Jackson Van Paris and Wells Williams finished with 72s.
Riedel tied for fourth at 5-under-par for the tournament while Van Paris tied for sixth at 4-under-par and Sherwood tied for 14th at 1-under-par. Williams (-2), in his Vandy debut, tied for 11th.
Reid Davenport and William Moll were each competing as individuals and Davenport (tied for eighth) logged a top-10 finished with a 4-under-par. Moll finished 6-over-par and tied for 38th.
“Matthew played really well today and I’m proud of how he’s growing,” Limbaugh said. “It was good to see Cole finishing strong and looking in control today. Jackson had a good week and it was great having him out there and watching him play like we all know he can play. He’s been playing good at home and doing a lot of the right things.
“I’m so excited for Wells and how he earned an opportunity to compete and showed up played some good golf. His final 45 holes were really good and he has a really nice skill set. Reid didn’t finish the way he wanted, but he had a good week and we certainly believe in him.”
The Commodores have now won the John Hayt Invitational, East Lake Cup, Frederica Cup, Palm Beach Gardens Regional, SEC championship, Mossy Oak Collegiate Championship, Mason Rudolph Championship, Cabo Collegiate and The Prestige since Feb. 23, 2022.
Vanderbilt has two weeks off before resuming action at the Watersound Collegiate (Feb. 19-21) in Panama City Beach, Florida.
“It was important to get off to a good start this spring and send the right kind of message and the guys did that,” Limbaugh said. “We also know that our actions determine our outcomes and we have to continue to look forward and be excited about growing and improving. I believe in this group and I know they are hungry to be the best they can be.”
