Nov. 18, 2014
Vanderbilt head men’s golf coach Scott Limbaugh has announced the signing of Will Gordon, Andrew Jacobe, and Patrick Martin to National Letters of Intent and will be eligible to compete for the Commodores beginning in the fall of 2015
“This class really means a lot to us as we continue to lay the foundation for a championship program,” said Limbaugh. “They all embody what we want Vanderbilt Golf to stand for from a character standpoint and they all have very good leadership qualities. We are so thankful for the support our administration gives us as we continue our chase for Championships!”
Gordon comes to Vanderbilt from Davidson, N.C., after a stellar junior and high school career. He was ranked as the number one ranked junior golfer in the state of North Carolina for the late part of 2013 and the first half of 2014 after finishing in the top 10 in six junior tournaments. In 2013, Gordon made the round of 32 at the U.S. Junior Amateur, and in 2014, he made it to sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open. A 2013 AJGA Rolex All-America honorable mention selection, he was also a standout for his Cannon School team. He was a two-time Charlotte Observer Cabarrus News Player of the Year and a two-time NCISAA All-State team member, and holds his high school’s record for 18 holes (66) and nine holes (30). He is ranked as the number 31 golfer in the 2015 class.
“Will is an extremely talented golfer,” said Limbaugh. “From a physical standpoint, he is one of the very best junior players I have recruited. Also, he was one of the first commits to jump on board with us here at Vanderbilt, so he believes in our program and he believes in our vision. He has had a very decorated junior career and we look forward to having him here.”
Jacobe, from Houston’s The Kinkaid School, is in the Golfweek and Polo Golf top 40 and is also ranked in the top four in Texas for the class of 2015. He helped lead The Kinkaid School to three straight Southwest Preparatory Championships and won the individual title at the 2013 SPC Championship by six strokes with a score of 7-under par. He won seven high school tournaments in his prep career, had seven top 15 finishes in AJGA events, and won four Texas Junior Golf Tour events. Off the course, he was the leading fundraiser for the AJGA Leadership Links Birdies for Charity program over the last two years, raising over $35,000. He was also a finalist for the USGA-AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award in 2014.
“Andrew is a talented player that we believe has the opportunity to flourish here,” said Limbaugh. “He has played on championship teams in high school and understands what being a team player is all about. He is a great fit for our program.”
Martin, from Birmingham’s Spain Park High School, is ranked as the 19th player in the class of 2015. He was a 2013 Rolex All American Honorable Mention selection and captured two AJGA events, the 2013 NRP Bluegrass AJGA Junior Classic Championship and the 2014 Huntsville AJGA Junior Championship. Martin represented the USA in the 2013 USA – China youth golf match and went 3-0 in his matches. Also, he was a finalist for the AJGA/ USGA Presidential Leadership award in 2013 and 2014. He finished seventh at the Rolex Tournament of Champions, and helped lead his team to three state championships at Spain Park High School.
“Patrick is a gifted golfer that knows how to win,” said Limbaugh. “The thing that stands out as we have watched Patrick develop is that he has improved every single year and we believe he will continue to do so at Vanderbilt. He is a smart golfer and a competitor that has a desire to be great and help us win championships.”
Stewart Chosen for Walker Cup Practice
Senior Hunter Stewart has accepted an invitation from the United States Golf Association’s International Team Selection Committee to participate in a practice session for the 2015 Walker Cup Match. The practice session will take place Dec. 17-20 at Frederica Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Ga. Stewart is one of 16 amateurs that were chosen to be a part of the practice.
The 45th Walker Cup Match will be contested Sept. 12-13, 2015, at Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Club in Lancashire, England.
The Walker Cup Match is an international team competition that consists of four foursomes (alternate-shot) matches on both mornings of the two-day competition, with eight singles matches on the first afternoon and 10 singles matches on the final afternoon.
“It’s a great honor for Hunter to be invited to the Walker Cup practice,” said Limbaugh. “We certainly feel that he’s one of the best amateur golfers in the world right now and very deserving of this opportunity.”
