FORT WORTH, Texas – The Commodore men’s golf team carded the low round of the day at the Nike Golf Collegiate Invitational and rallied to finish second with a final total of four-over par, 844 (281-288-275) at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. Vanderbilt fired a five-under, 275 total on Tuesday and were the only team under par in the third round.
Vanderbilt counted a pair of three-under par, 67’s from seniors Will Gordon and Patrick Martin, an even-par 70 from sophomore Harrison Ott, and a one-over 71 from junior John Augenstein.
Gordon and redshirt sophomore Mason Greenberg were the team’s leaders for the tournament, with each finishing the tournament in a tie for 12th with an even-par, 210 total. Martin finished in a tie for 19th with a 212, Augenstein in a tie for 31st with a score of 216, and Ott in a tie for 38th with a final total of 219.
“I am really proud of the way the boys responded with the low round of the day today,” said Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh. “It really started yesterday in the way we battled on the back nine and created some momentum for today. It was a true team effort, everyone of these guys competed and handled themselves well, which was a good step for us. Patrick and Gordo played very solid today and did a good job battling until the end. John really battled all week without his best stuff and I am proud of him. Harrison was solid today and Mason certainly took another nice step this week.”
Vanderbilt’s five-under team total on Tuesday moved the Commodores three places up the team leader board, where they finished second and six shots back of team champion Duke.
The Blue Devils’ Chandler Eaton won medalist honors with a six-under par, 204 total, one shot better than Clemson’s Bryson Nimmer.
“We have been talking about enjoying the innocence of the climb,” said Limbaugh. “Seeing what you can become together is the most exciting part, so we might as well have fun with it instead of allowing expectations to rob our joy. That goes for the players and the coaches alike. We aren’t where we want to be yet, but we have gotten a little better each time out this fall. We will try to get some rest and focus on what each player has to do to improve so we can be a little better for our last event of the fall in a couple of weeks.”
Vanderbilt returns to the course at the Tavistock Collegiate in Windermere, Fla. October 21-23 at Isleworth Country Club.
2. Vanderbilt – 281-288-275=844
T12. Will Gordon – 70-73-67=210
T12. Mason Greenberg – 66-71-73=210
T19. Patrick Martin – 72-73-67=212
T31. John Augenstein – 73-72-71=216
T38. Harrison Ott – 77-72-70=219
