NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Two future Vanderbilt Commodores were recently honored with a prestigious junior golf award.
Gordon Sargent and Jackson Van Paris have been given 2021 Byron Nelson International Junior Awards. The Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Awards recognize the achievements of junior golfers around the world who distinguish themselves with a high level of junior tournament play as well as excellence in academics, exceptional character and a commitment to community service.
Sargent and Van Paris both signed with Vanderbilt in November. Van Paris (Pinehurst, North Carolina) is a four-time Rolex Junior All-American and recently won the AJGA Simplify Boys championship and the Sandhill Athletic Conference title.
Van Paris hosted the Carolina Cup in 2017-2020 which raised $250,000 to benefit three charities. In 2020, Van Paris was recognized by the AJGA and received The Jerry Cole Sportsmanship Award.
From Birmingham, Alabama, Sargent is a three-time Rolex Junior All-American and has twice been named the Alabama Junior Player of the Year. He also won the 2020 Alabama State Amateur champion and 2019 Alabama State Junior champion.
Sargent has chaired the Alabama Cup, a youth-organized golf tournament that raises funds for the AJGA Ave Grand and local charities. Over the past three years the Alabama Cup has raised more than $160,000.
Both Sargent and Van Paris are expected to join the Commodores this fall before the start of the 2021-22 season.
What an honor for these two future Commodores. 🙌🏆
Congrats to Gordon and Jackson.#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/JYEYsrV0St
— Vanderbilt Men’s Golf (@VandyMGolf) May 3, 2021
Championship Apparel Available Now
Vanderbilt championship apparel is available now.
Fans of Vandy golf can show their support for the 2020-21 Commodores with an SEC Championships shirt now available for purchase at Fanatics.com.
The Commodores claimed the 2021 SEC title on St. Simons Island by beating Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas, respectively, in match play after finishing sixth in stroke play.
Wish the Dores Luck
As Vandy prepares for the 2021 postseason, family, friends and fans can send the Commodores messages of support via an online portal.
Click HERE to personalize words of encouragement before Vandy returns to the course May 17-19 for play at the NCAA Regionals.
Ranked 13th
Vanderbilt finished ranked 13th in the final final Golfweek Division I Coaches’ Poll of 2021 released last week.
The Commodores were one of two SEC teams inside the top 13 along with No. 12 Georgia. Oklahoma, Florida State, Oklahoma State, Clemson and Texas, respectively, ranked in the top five.
