Bluegrass Bound

Four Vanderbilt men's golfers head to Lexington, Kentucky, for the Cullan Brown Collegiate this Monday and Tuesday

A golfer in white attire is mid-swing, focused on hitting the ball with a driver against a blurred green background.A golfer in white attire is mid-swing, focused on hitting the ball with a driver against a blurred green background.
@ryanbeattyphoto

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 10-ranked Vanderbilt men’s golf team will send four individuals up to the Bluegrass State this week to participate in the 2026 Cullan Brown Collegiate. Play takes place Monday and Tuesday at the Lexington Country Club.

Tournament Format and Schedule
The Cullan Brown Collegiate, hosted by Kentucky, is a five-count-four, 54-hole stroke play tournament. Teams are scheduled to play 36 holes on Monday, then return to Lexington Country Club Tuesday to conclude play.

Tee Times
Both days of the tournament feature an 8 a.m. CT shotgun start. Vanderbilt opens Monday from Holes 14A-18. Tee times for Tuesday’s finale will be set at the end of Round 2. Fans can click here for a full list of pairings each day.

Days of competition and tee times are tentative and subject to change. Fans can stay updated on this week’s tournament by following @VandyMGolf on Instagram and Twitter/X.

Vanderbilt Golfers
Carlos Astiazaran (R) – Sr. – Tucson, Ariz. – Season Scoring Avg: 71.50 – WAGR: 64th
The senior is in the midst of his best stretch of golf as a Commodore. Astiazaran posted his best finish at Vanderbilt his last time out, as he tied for 19th at The Inverness Intercollegiate with a score of 6-over 219. The senior opened the 2026-27 campaign by collecting his best 54-hole score as a Dore by carding even-par 210 at the Visit Knoxville Collegiate. This will mark his first event playing as an individual this season, while it will be his eighth career tournament representing Vanderbilt.

Ryan Downes (R) – Jr. – Longmeadow, Mass. – Season Scoring Avg: 71.67 – WAGR: 85th
The Longmeadow, Massachusetts, native will be playing in his second event for Vanderbilt this season. Downes played in the Commodore lineup to open the 2026-27 season and finished tied for 62nd with a three-round score of 5-over 215. The veteran junior has played in 25 career events at Vanderbilt and holds a scoring average of 71.66 in 73 career rounds. Downes, a postseason veteran, has been featured in the Vandy lineup in each of the last two NCAA Championships, NCAA Regionals and SEC Championships.

Chase Nevins (L) – Sr. – Great Falls, Va. – Season Scoring Avg: --  – WAGR: 184th
The senior makes his 2026-27 debut this week in Lexington. Nevins has played in 72 rounds for the Dores and holds a career scoring average of 72.82. The lefty is coming off his best season with the Commodores, as he held a scoring average of 71.97 over 30 rounds. Nevins had been featured in the Vanderbilt lineup in each of the last two SEC Championship and NCAA Regional events and played in the 2026 NCAA Championship Quarterfinal match.

Bowen Ballis (L) – Jr. – The Woodlands, Texas – Season Scoring Avg: 73.00
The junior will be making his seventh appearance for Vanderbilt, all as an individual. Ballis opened the 2026-27 season playing as an individual at the Visit Knoxville Collegiate, where he finished 79th with a score of 9-over 219. The Woodlands, Texas, native has played in 18 career rounds for the Dores.

Vanderbilt Thomas F. Roush, M.D., and Family Men’s Golf Head Coach Scott Limbaugh on the Cullan Brown Collegiate
“I know these guys are excited for the opportunity to compete this week and excited to make a statement.”

The Field
A total of 15 teams, along with Vanderbilt’s group of individuals, will compete at the Cullan Brown Collegiate. Teams in attendance at the Lexington Country Club will be host-school Kentucky, No. 7 Tennessee, Cincinnati (RV), Mississippi State (RV), Eastern Kentucky, Iowa State, Kennesaw State, Memphis, NC State, North Alabama, Penn State, VCU, West Florida, Western Kentucky, and Xavier.

Course Information
The Lexington Country Club is located in Lexington, Kentucky. It is 7,255 yards and plays as a par 71. Founded in 1901, it is a premier membership-only establishment celebrated for its deep roots in Central Kentucky society and its comprehensive, upscale athletic and social amenities.

Live Scoring
Fans can follow all of the action via live results on Scoreboard powered by CLIPPD.

Vanderbilt at the Cullan Brown Invitational
Vanderbilt is sending individual golfers to the Cullen Brown Collegiate for the second-straight season. At last year’s tournament, John Broderick posted a top-five finish for the Commodores, as he tied for fourth after carding 4-under 138 in a rain-shortened 36 holes of play.

Follow The Commodores
For more information and exclusive content on the Vanderbilt men’s golf team, follow @VandyMGolf on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter/X.