PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — For the second season in a row, Vanderbilt has won an NCAA Regional title.
The Commodores (-20) continued their torrid run on the Champion Course at PGA National on Wednesday where they fired a 277 and finished 12 shots ahead of Florida State to win the Palm Beach Regional. In 2021, Vandy won the Kingston Springs Regional at the Golf Club of Tennessee.
Vanderbilt, which led this week’s event wire-to-wire, advances to the NCAA Championships beginning May 27 at the Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“Really proud of how our guys went out and played great today. It’s easy to take days like this for granted, but I don’t and I am so happy for these guys and how they keep stepping up in these huge moments,” Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh said. “It was a total team effort with all five guys finishing in the top 20 and all stepping up in big moments on a championship course. I think this week will help prepare us for Grayhawk.”
Vandy had 22 birdies as a team Wednesday and was led by Gordon Sargent. The freshman was an impressive 6-under-par thanks to six birdies on his first 12 holes and tied for fourth at 4-under-par after 54 holes.
Reid Davenport shot a 5-under-par 67 on Wednesday as he birdied four of his final nine holes to help Vandy close out an impressive week in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. A senior, Davenport tied for second overall.
Harrison Ott and William Moll each carded even-par 72s and finished tied for 11th and tied for 19th, respectively.
Cole Sherwood was 2-over-par, but the sophomore had an eagle on the third and ended his day with back-to-back birdies. Sherwood tied for eighth overall.
“Obviously, Gordon and Reid played awesome today and I’m so proud of how they locked in and went and took it,” Limbaugh said. “Cole didn’t have his best game today, but found the courage to finish like a champion. William was solid all day long and proud of how he fights. Harry got off to a tough start, but just kept battling and staying in control which was huge for him and us.
“When things are hard it makes you better and this was a hard test this week and I know it made us better.”
Wednesday’s victory was Vanderbilt’s sixth of the spring and fourth straight.
Along with Vanderbilt and Florida State, Florida, South Florida and the College of Charleston also advanced out of the Palm Beach Regional.
“This was the first step of a long NCAA Tournament and we certainly didn’t want to take anything for granted because you cannot skip steps this time of year,” Limbaugh added. “We are excited, but we also know there are a few things we have to do at a little higher level if we want to continue advancing in this tournament. I sure hope our Vandy fans will make it our west next week to support this group at the championship!”
