CARLSBAD, Calif. – The 2023-24 season came to an end for the Vanderbilt men’s golf team in the quarterfinal round of match play at the 2024 NCAA Men’s Golf Championships, as the No. 2-seed Commodores dropped a 3.5-1.5 decision to No. 7-seed Ohio State on Tuesday.
Vanderbilt, who was playing the quarterfinal round of match play at the NCAA Championships for the seventh time, fell in the quarterfinals for the fourth time in program history. The Commodores advanced to match play after finishing second in stroke play at the NCAA Championships with a four-round score of 10-over 1,162.
“It’s tough right now for sure and I hurt for our guys, I know how much they wanted this,” said Vanderbilt men’s golf head coach Scott Limbaugh. “Everything you do is to help your team be ready for these moments. We didn’t make the plays today that’s necessary at this time of year. This is certainly a tough moment.”
Ohio State claimed the first point of the quarterfinal match, as junior Jackson Van Paris fell 3&2 to Jackson Chandler. Senior Cole Sherwood pulled Vanderbilt even at 1-1 just minutes later, as he posted a 3&2 win over Maxwell Moldovana. The Buckeyes would reclaim the lead after OSU’s Neal Shipley picked up a 4&2 victory over graduate student Matthew Riedel.
Junior Gordon Sargent, who posted a runner-up finish in stroke play at the 2024 NCAA Men’s Golf Championships, found himself down by hole to OSU’s Adam Wallin through 11 holes. Sargent won three-straight holes from that point as he jumped out to a 2-up lead through 16 holes. Sabo pulled even with the 2022 NCAA individual champion on Holes 17 and 18 to force an extra hole. Wallin claimed the 19th hole of the match to give the Buckeyes the win.
Graduate student William Moll overcame an early deficit in his match with Tyler Sabo. The Houston, Texas, native trailed by two through seven holes, but went into the turn even with Sabo after winning Holes 8 and 9. Sabo broke the tie on Hole 13 and would go 2-up on Moll after winning Hole 14. Ohio State conceded Hole 15 after back-to-back shots went into a water hazard, which pulled Moll within a hole heading to 17. The All-American tied the match on Hole 18 after Ohio State conceded after missing two long putts. That match would end in a tie after OSU’s Wallin secured the victory over Sargent to send the Buckeyes to the semifinal round.
It was another storybook season for the Vanderbilt men’s golf team in 2023-24. The Commodores set the program record for stroke average at 272.90, while Vandy collected seven team victories, which tied for second-most in a single season in program history.
A total of four Dores won an individual match during the 2023-24 season. Cole Sherwood (Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational) and Jackson Van Paris (St Andrews Links Collegiate) picked up an individual title in the fall. Gordon Sargent became the second golfer to win back-to-back Mason Rudolph Championships to close the regular season. William Moll became the first Commodore to win an NCAA Regional, finishing the 2024 NCAA West Lafayette Regional in first place.
Vanderbilt had a program-record five golfers selected to the GCAA All-Southeast Region team. Graduate student Matthew Riedel, Sherwood, and Sargent earned All-SEC first team honors this season, while Van Paris picked up an All-SEC second team selection.
“These are special men,” said Limbaugh. “They are special people that have made me better. Vanderbilt golf is a special thing and it’s because of these players and the families they come from. They still want to be coached and held accountable. They’ve left a legacy of excellence and I’m very grateful having for them.”
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