Hanging Tough

Vandy completes second round at SEC Championships

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Vanderbilt hung tough Thursday during a cool, breezy day where the greens played fast and firm on the Seaside Course on St. Simons Island.

Vandy finished 8-over-par for the second round and is eight strokes back of leader Alabama. Alabama (-3) was the lone team out of 14 to play an under-par round Thursday.

Vanderbilt (+9 for the tournament) found only nine birdies Thursday. The Commodores are tied for sixth overall alongside Tennessee.

“It was really a good test out there today,” Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh said. “You find out a lot about yourself when things are hard like they were today.”

Cole Sherwood, a freshman, led the Commodores with a 2-under-par and climbed into the top 10. The Texan sits 2-under-par for the tournament and is tied for fourth after 36 holes.

William Moll and Reid Davenport are both tied for 15th at 2-over-par for the tournament – Moll was 1-over-par on Thursday while Davenport was 2-over-par.

Matthew Riedel (+7) is tied for 44th while Harrison Ott (+15) is tied for 67th.

“Obviously, Cole played a very good round today at a time when our team really needed it so I’m happy for him,” Limbaugh said. “William and Reid were both steady and I’m proud of how they battled it in and finished their rounds strong.

“We were missing a fourth score today and Matthew and Harrison understand that and I know they will respond well tomorrow. They have the right type of competitive character and I’m excited to see guys continue to step up and lift the team up. That’s what this time of year is all about.”

Vanderbilt is scheduled to tee off at 6:30 a.m. CT Friday as it attempts to finish inside the top eight in order to advance to Saturday’s match play. South Carolina is alone in eighth at 11-over-par and Florida (+15) is ninth.

Live scoring for Friday’s round can be found HERE.

“We need to be excited and enthusiastic to get out there and play tomorrow,” Limbaugh added. “As a competitor, this is what you want to do and what we’ve been waiting for. Our focus needs to be on the right and meaningful things and have some fun playing Vandy golf.

“I believe in this group and it’s up to us to go compete to our standards.”