FRANKLIN, Tenn. – The Commodore men’s golf team finished in second place at its own Mason Rudolph Championship Sunday at the Vanderbilt Legends Club with a final team total of 856 (289-284-283), nine strokes behind team champion Alabama. Junior Hunter Stewart led the Vanderbilt team, finishing in a tie for fifth with a score of 212 (69-69-74), while junior Ben Fogler finished runner up playing as an individual with a total of 210 (73-69-68).
“First of all, It was a lot of fun out there today,” said Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh. “I thought we really competed well against a great team. We were right there where you want to be going into the back nine. I thought Zack and Jordan did a really good job for us today and were solid all day. All week our team focus has been on doing the simple things correctly in order for us to be successful. Unfortunately, on the final nine holes we got out of our process just a little bit. Putting ourselves in positions like this will only help us down the road in postseason play.”
Vanderbilt held a two-stroke lead on the number-one ranked Crimson Tide with nine holes to play, but Alabama showed their number one credentials by combining to count a 10-under par on the back nine of the VLC South Course and a 12-under total for the day. Alabama’s Tom Lovelady made four consecutive birdies on holes 12, 13, 14, and 15 to push the Crimson Tide into the lead, with Robby Shelton putting an exclamation mark on the festivities by making four birdies in his last five holes.
Although Stewart paced the Commodore effort for the tournament, his third-round 74 was not counted on Sunday. Sophomore Zack Jaworski had the team’s low round of the day, posting a career-low 68, while junior Jordan Janico carded a two-under par 69. Vanderbilt’s other two counting scores came from senior Charlie Ewing and sophomore Carson Jacobs, who each shot a 73 Sunday.
Janico finished in a tie for 12th on the individual leader board, with Jaworski finishing in a tie for 17th, Ewing ending the tournament in 21st place, and Jacobs in a tie for 22nd.
Conditions on Sunday were by far the best of the weekend, although players still played with lift, clean, and place rules.
Individually, Jack Maguire of Florida State ran away with medalist honors, finishing with a 10-under par, 203 (71-66-66), seven strokes better than Fogler and Robin Sciot-Siegrist of Louisville.
“This really was a good week for our team and our program,” said Limbaugh. “We were able to play a great course for three rounds and we had a lot of support from a lot of people that made the week special.”
The Commodores will participate in one more spring tournament before the SEC Championships April 14-15 at the Bancorp South Intercollegiate in Jackson, Miss.
2. Vanderbilt – 289-284-283=856
T2. Ben Fogler – 73-69-68=210*
T5. Hunter Stewart – 69-69-74=212
T12. Jordan Janico – 75-71-69=215
T17. Zack Jaworski – 75-73-68=216
21. Charlie Ewing – 72-72-73=217
T22. Carson Jacobs – 73-72-73=218
T22. John Voetsch – 73-72-73=218*
T39. Mills Rendell – 74-77-73=224*
T52. Spencer Ciesla – 75-77-76=228*
T60. Zach Herr – 79-76-76=231*
*Played as an individual
