STATESBORO, Ga. – The fifth-ranked Vanderbilt men’s golf team lit up the Forest Heights Country Club in the third round of the Schenkel Invitational in Statesboro, Ga., firing a 19-under par, 269, to finish second at the 36th annual edition of the event. The Commodores finished with a final total of 824 (273-282-269), one stroke back of team champion Auburn.
The 269 was the lowest of the season and tied for the second-lowest team round in the 36-year history of the event. Saturday’s third round also was the second-lowest in program history behind a 21-under par performance at the 2007 West Regional.
“First of all, the guys played awesome golf this week!,” said Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh. “To come back this afternoon and have an opportunity to win is a credit to the resiliency that we continue to show.”
Four Commodores finished in the top six, with sophomore Matthias Schwab and Theo Humphrey leading the way with each shooting an 11-under, 205. Senior Hunter Stewart and junior Carson Jacobs finished in a tie for sixth, with each registering a nine-under par, 207.
“We had four guys in the top six and it was really good to see Theo and Matthias competing to win,” said Limbaugh. “I know we are taking the right steps as a team and as long as we stay positive and have the right amount of buy-in we are going to be just fine. We will take a couple of days off then begin our preparation for the Mason.”
The Commodores finished second behind team champion Auburn, who surged to the top of the team leader board after shooting a team total of 19-under par, 269, in the second round and then held on from a furious Vanderbilt rally in the third round. Thirty-six holes were played on Saturday due to incoming inclement weather on Sunday.
The Commodores led the tournament in par-three scoring, shooting nine-under and averaging 2.85 strokes, and also tied for first on par four’s with a score of seven-under par. Vanderbilt was also second in birdies for the tournament (63) and tied for first with four eagles.
Individually, Schwab was the tournament leader on par 3’s, carding a four-under par total, Jacobs tied for first in par-four scoring (-6), with Stewart finishing third in par-four scoring at five-under par.
The Commodores return to the course for their own Mason Rudolph Championship April 3-5 at the Vanderbilt Legends Club.
2. Vanderbilt – 273-282-269=824
T2. Matthias Schwab – 67-70-68=205
T2. Theo Humphrey – 68-71-66=205
T6. Hunter Stewart – 70-71-66=207
T6. Carson Jacobs – 68-70-69=207
T65. Ben Fogler – 72-76-73=221
T65. Zach Herr – 68-82-71=221
*Individual
