PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Michael Riebe collected his first collegiate victory to open the 2026 spring season for the No. 3-ranked Vanderbilt men’s golf team, as the freshman carded 9-under 201 to share medalist honors at the 2026 Watersound Invitational, while he also set the school’s freshman record for lowest 54-hole total.
Riebe climbed up four spots on the player leaderboard in Round 3, as he carded a personal-best 4-under 66. It was the second time this week that the freshman finished a round at 4-under, equaling his score from Monday’s opening round. Riebe’s three-round score of 201 is the lowest 54-hole total posted by a Commodore this season, as the Vandy freshman shared medalist honors with TCU’s Nathan Miller and Ole Miss’ Daniel Tolf. He held round scores of 66-69-66 and led the Watersound Invitational in par-4 scoring at 6-under, while his 15 birdies were tied for second most in the field.
The Encinitas, California, native’s three-round score of 201 is the lowest 54-hole total by a freshman in Vanderbilt men’s golf history. It is also tied for the 12th-lowest three-round total at Vanderbilt, tying him with John Augenstein (2020 Desert Mountain), Jon Curran (2007 NCAA West Regional) and Gordon Sargent (2023 John Hayt Invitational).
The freshman becomes the first Commodore to win the Watersound Invitational, as the Dores have made the annual trip to Panama City, Florida, in each of the last four seasons. Riebe captures Vanderbilt’s second individual title this season, joining sophomore Ryan Downes, who won the 2025 Bryson Invitational to close out the 2025 fall campaign.
Riebe becomes the 25th Vanderbilt golfer to win an individual title this century, while he is the 16th Commodore to earn medalist honors under Limbaugh. He is the first Vandy freshman to win a tournament since Wells Williams captured at the Cabo Collegiate title during the 2022-23 season.
Vanderbilt concluded the 2026 Watersound Invitational in second place on the team leaderboard, as the Commodores wrapped up the first tournament of the spring with a three-round score of 18-under 822. The Dores led the tournament in par-5 scoring (-21) and birdies (57), as Vandy concluded the week with round scores of 273-267-282.
“Obviously, really happy for Michael getting his first college win,” said Thomas F. Roush, M.D., and Family Vanderbilt Men’s Golf Head Coach Scott Limbaugh. “He continues to play at a high level and looks comfortable, like someone who wants the ball in his hands. He rolled in a nice putt on his final hole, which was big for him and our team. Wells battled strong after a slow start and is putting together a great season. Also, it was great to see Chase and Jon Ed finish so well.”
Senior Wells Williams posted his fifth top-10 finish of the 2025-26 campaign, as the All-American tied for seventh. Williams carded even par 70 on Wednesday to conclude the tournament with a 54-hole score of 5-under 205. The West Point, Mississippi, native’s score counted in all three rounds at the Watersound Invitational, as he extends his consecutive rounds counted streak to 53-straight rounds dating back to the 2023-24 season.
A trio of Commodores tied for 14th, as senior John Broderick, sophomore Ryan Downes and freshman Jon Ed Steed, who played as an individual this week, each carded 2-under 208. Steed and junior Chase Nevins, also playing as an individual, finished Wednesday at 3-under 67.
Nevins, who tied for 21st at 1-under 209, became the third Commodore to collect a hole-in-one at the Watersound Invitational, as he aced the par-3 Hole 3 in Round 3. John Broderick and junior Carlos Astiazaran also had a hole-in-one this week. Broderick finished the par-3 Hole 14 in one shot in Round 1 on Monday, while Astiazaran aced the par-3 Hole 4 during Tuesday’s Round 2.
No. 8 Arkansas won the 2026 Watersound Invitational, carding 19-under 821 to win the tournament by a stroke over the Commodores.
“Today is a good experience for our team,” Limbaugh stated. “I feel like we weren’t as solid on the little things today as we had been the first two days. It takes special competitors and elite focus to be consistently locked in on the right things at the right times. But that’s what championship golf takes. Ryan is a guy we want in those moments every single time because he loves it. Today it didn’t work out, but that’s part of the fun and growth. We didn’t play winning golf today, but I sure am proud of how we battled like champions.”
No. 3 Vanderbilt returns to the golf course on March 1-3, as Commodores make their annual trip south of the border for the Cabo Collegiate. Check back with VUCommodores.com for a full tournament preview.
“We have a short turnaround before heading to the Cabo Collegiate,” expressed Limbaugh. “Our focus will be on learning, growing, and improving at doing those simple things at a higher level. Overall, it was a good start to the spring season, and we sure appreciate everything the Watersound Club did to make it such a good weekend.”
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