CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico — As the afternoon heated up on the Baja California Sur, so did the Commodores on Monday.
Vanderbilt was en Fuego during the latter part of its second round of the Cabo Collegiate as it went 11-under-par as a team and opened a 13-stroke lead on Ole Miss ahead of Tuesday’s final round at the Twin Dolphin Club.
“I’m really proud of how the team finished the round today,” Vandy head coach Scott Limbaugh said. “We didn’t get off to the start we were probably hoping for, but the guys battled, stayed patient for the most part and allowed themselves to sprint through the finish line.”
Vandy was led not by defending tournament champion Cole Sherwood or reigning national champion Gordon Sargent on Monday, but rather freshman Wells Williams.
Williams played an impressive, bogey-free round that saw him card six birdies and finish with a career-best 65. Williams moved into a tie for the overall lead with teammate Matthew Riedel.
Riedel got off to a rough start Monday, but came back with a pair of birdies and an eagle during his final six holes. Riedel and Williams are both 6-under-par for the tournament.
“We are always kind of challenging guys to step up when their number is called and Wells certainly did that today,” Limbaugh said. “That was a big time round of golf and it gave our team a huge lift on moving day. He and Coach (Gator) Todd are doing a great job out there sticking to their plan and playing to Wells’ strengths.”
Sargent is lurking at 3-under-par after a 70 on Monday and is fourth overall.
Reid Davenport also carded a 70 on Monday and is tied for 18th at 2-over-par. Sherwood (+5) is tied for 39th and Jackson Van Paris, competing as an individual, is tied for 31st at 4-over-par.
“It was a big day for Reid as well and I knew he got some momentum Sunday finishing and he carried that over to today which was great to see,” Limbaugh said. “Matthew finished his round off with a chip in for eagle on No. 16, a good birdie on No. 17 and a good save for par on his final hole. His emotional maturity really helps him play the next play and I thought he did a great job of that today after a couple of early mistakes.
“Gordon was solid all day after a bad start and I’m proud of the toughness he showed hanging in all day and locking in to finish the round strong. Cole will be ready to go Tuesday and he’s close to playing a good round of golf. I’m also proud of how Jackson hung in there and finished off his round today.”
Vandy will be paired with Ole Miss, Texas Tech and Arizona State and is scheduled to tee off a 9 a.m. CT looking to win a fourth straight tournament. Live scoring for the event can be found HERE.
“Today was a certainly a good day and we made the move we wanted to make. However, this is a three-day tournament and we need to be ready to go and finish this the right way,” Limbaugh said. “We learned in our last tournament that no assumptions need to be made and our actions determine our outcomes.
“It will take all five guys being ready to go from the start, having some fun and embracing our journey.”
Sullivans Secures Second
Future Commodore Rowan Sullivan took home second place at the recent World Junior Golf Championship in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Sullivan, from Charleston, South Carolina, was 3-under-par for the tournament just two shots back of champion Jackson Koivan,
Sullivan signed with Vanderbilt in November and had eight top-10 finishes during 2022, including a win at the South Carolina Junior Championship.
