STATESBORO, Ga. – The number-15 ranked Commodore men’s golf team is one shot back of the team lead heading into the final round after another clutch performance on the finishing holes at the Schenkel Invitational in Statesboro, Ga., on Saturday. Vanderbilt is in a tie for third with Wake Forest, one shot back of team leaders Auburn and Georgia State with a 22-under par, 554 (274-280).
The Commodores were led by junior Matthias Schwab, who fired a second-round 68 on Saturday at the par-72, 6,947-yard Forest Heights Country Club. Schwab had five birdies and a bogey in his round on Saturday, and is in a tie for seventh with a total of 137 (69-68). Sophomore Theo Humphrey carded a three-under, 69, behind a four-birdie round, and is in a tie for 14th with a 139 total (70-69), while freshman Patrick Martin ended his day Saturday with a two-under, 70, and is in a tie for ninth with a score of 138 (138). Fellow freshman Will Gordon was the team’s final counter at one-over, 73, but the freshman from Davidson, N.C., finished his round strong, birdieing his final two holes. Gordon is in a tie for 21st with a score of 140 (67-73) for the tournament.
Gordon and the rest of the counting Commodores scored a combined four-under par in the team’s last two holes of the day.
“I was proud of the patience we showed today,” said Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh. “We didn’t get off to a very good start, but I thought the guys stayed patient and that allowed us to play a good round. In my opinion, rounds like this help you grow as a player and as a team. In this game, you have to be able to overcome adversity if you want to be a truly great team.”
Individually, Auburn’s Michael Johnson is the overall leader with a total of 133 (68-65), one shot better than J.J. Grey of Georgia State and Davis Womble of Wake Forest.
The third and final round of the Schenkel Invitational concludes on Sunday from Statesboro.
“Matthias played well today and did the simple things very well,” said Limbaugh. “Theo and Patrick were solid as well. We know what tomorrow will be and we need to have the right kind of focus and go compete the way we know how.”
T3. Vanderbilt – 274-284=554
T7. Matthias Schwab – 69-68=137
T9. Patrick Martin – 68-70=138
T14. Theo Humphrey – 70-69=139
T21. Will Gordon – 67-73=140
T38. Michael Decker – 72-71=143
T57. Carson Jacobs – 72-74=146
*Individual
