GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida’s Mark Bostick Golf Course was no match for Vanderbilt men’s golf team on Sunday, as the Commodores torched the par-70, 6,701-yard layout with a team total of 268, the second-lowest in Vanderbilt golf history, to finish in second place at the SunTrust Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., with a final score of 826 (278-280-268), which tied for the third-lowest 54-hole team total in school history. The records were not just limited to team accomplishments either, as freshman Will Gordon joined the record books by shooting a final-round 63, which tied for the lowest single individual round in program history.
The Commodores, who entered the day in fourth place, jolted up the team standings with the final-round 268 to finish behind team champ South Florida and one shot in front of #12-ranked Florida and five shots ahead of #3-ranked Florida State in their first tournament of the spring. The Sunday round of 268 tied the team’s third round of the 2002 Mason Rudolph Championship for the second-lowest in school history, and the final total of 826 tied Vanderbilt’s 54-hole total at the 2007 NCAA West Regional, which tied for third in the record books.
Gordon, who finished his round with seven birdies and an eagle, finished sixth and was second among Commodore finishers with a final total of 203 (71-69-63). The freshman’s final round tied Luke List’s 63 at the 2004 Hyatt/Dorado Beach Invitational and Hudson Johnson’s 63 at the 2008 Kauai Collegiate Cup for the lowest in program history.
Vanderbilt’s top finisher for the weekend was fellow freshman Patrick Martin, who finished in a tie for third with a final score of 202 (68-68-66), which was one of only two individual rounds in the 60’s for all three rounds.
Martin’s 202 tied for the third-lowest 54-hole total in school history with Craig Dunlap’s 202 at the Mason Rudolph Championship in 2002, and Gordon’s 203 tied the fourth-lowest 54-hole total with 2015 SEC Player of the Year Hunter Stewart’s 203 at the Tavistock Collegiate in 2014 and Mark Donnell’s 203 at the 2002 Mason Rudolph.
“I really felt yesterday that we were close to playing a good round,” said Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh. “We knew we had some guys that hung in there yesterday afternoon and helped get themselves some momentum. The way Will finished yesterday was huge and gave him the confidence to play a round like that today when our team really needed it. Patrick was in control all day as well and is making good steps to becoming the player he is capable of being. We also wanted to go out and compete like we know how and play for each other. I thought everyone did just that which gave us the confidence we needed today. The start to our round gave us a lot of momentum and we were able to feed off that through the finish.”
Also contributing on Sunday was sophomore Theo Humphrey, who carded a final round 67, and junior Matthias Schwab and senior Zack Jaworski, who each carded a two-over par, 72. Humphrey finished with a final score of 209 (71-71-67) to tie for 14th, Schwab ended the event with a 213 (68-73-72, T-30), and Jaworski with a 218 (74-72-72, T-43).
Individually for the tournament, Rigel Fernandes of South Florida won medalist honors with a final total of 197 (70-63-64).
Vanderbilt returns home to Nashville and then takes off for Los Cabos, Mexico, this upcoming weekend to take part in the Querencia Cabo Collegiate February 28-March 1.
“We have a quick turnaround before heading to Cabo for one of our biggest events of the spring,” said Limbaugh. “I want the guys to enjoy this round today but also want them to learn from their mistakes this week and to continue to embrace the climb that is ahead of us.”
2. Vanderbilt – 278-280-268=826
T3. Patrick Martin – 68-68-66=202
6. Will Gordon – 71-69-63=203
T14. Theo Humphrey – 71-71-67=209
T30. Matthias Schwab – 68-73-72=213
T43. Zack Jaworski – 74-72-72=218
