DURHAM, N.C. – Sophomore John Augenstein led four Vanderbilt players in the top 15 this weekend at the Rod Myers Invitational in Durham, N.C., where the Commodores finished third on the team leader board with a final total of 846 (291-274-281) in the 54-hole event. Augenstein led the team with an eighth-place finish and a final score of 209 (72-67-70), with senior Theo Humphrey finishing 11th, junior Will Gordon in a tie for 12th, and junior Patrick Martin in a tie for 15th.
As a team, the Commodores finished four shots behind second-place Duke and 11 strokes back of team champion Wake Forest, who finished the tournament with an 835 total (282-276-277).
“I am really encouraged by a lot of things we did today and this week,” said Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh. “John and Will are playing with a lot of consistency, which is what you want to see as guys take on new roles. Today we got off to a solid start and again we had a few lapses in our focus which cost us momentum. When we do that, we get a little emotional, which leads to poor decisions and ultimately we cannot be as successful as we want to be. I thought the guys did a great job of hanging in there on the back nine which I am proud of. It was a fun week for our group and I know it will help us as we try to become the team we know we can be.”
On Sunday, Humphrey carded the team’s best round of the day with a three-under par 69. Other counting scores for the Commodores on Sunday included a two-under 70 from Augenstein, and a pair of one-under par 71’s from Gordon and Martin.
Augenstein finished five shots behind Wake Forest’s Will Zalatoris and Oregon’s Norman Xiong, who tied for the individual lead at 12-under par, 204.
“We know that we all have to get a lot better, both players and coaches,” said Limbaugh. “I really do like the chemistry the team is beginning to have and I know they are committed to improving on the things we have to do to be more consistent. Our focus going forward has to be on learning from and owning our mistakes and being more disciplined in the steps we take.”
The Commodores return to the course at the Nike Collegiate Invitational in Portland, Oregon, October 1-3.
3. Vanderbilt – 291-274-281=846
T8. John Augenstein – 72-67-70=209
11. Theo Humphrey – 73-69-69=211
T12. Will Gordon – 72-69-71=212
T15. Patrick Martin – 74-69-71=214
T29. Michael Decker – 75-69-76=220
T57. Harrison Ott – 75-78-72=225*
* Playing as individual
