NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt men’s golf team will begin the 2021 spring season ranked No. 3 nationally, according to a recent coaches’ poll released by Golfweek.
The Commodores, who won the Vanderbilt Legends Collegiate and tied for first at the Jerry Pate Invitational in the fall, were ranked No. 1 nationally by Golfstat at the end of 2020.
Vandy received three first-place votes in the Golfweek poll and was the highest-ranked SEC team in the top 25. Pepperdine took the top spot while Oklahoma was ranked second.
Vanderbilt is scheduled to start the spring slate Feb. 12-14 at the Gators Invitational in Gainesville, Florida.
Preston, Sherwood start new year on positive note
Two Vanderbilt freshmen, Jansen Preston and Cole Sherwood, began the 2021 calendar year with some solid swings in St. Petersburg, Florida.
At the New Year’s Invitational at the St. Petersburg Country Club, Preston fired a four-day total of 290 to finish 2-over par and in fourth place. The Lexington, Kentucky, native had 17 birdies during the event and opened the competition with a 68.
Sherwood, from Austin, Texas, finished tied for 27th (+13) with a four-day total of 301. He shot a 70 during the event’s second round and recorded six birdies and an eagle.
Augenstein in action
Former Vanderbilt star John Augenstein will make his professional debut this weekend in La Quinta, California, at The American Express tournament.
Augenstein, part of the 156-player field thanks to a sponsor exemption, ended his Commodore career in the fall with a second-place finish at the Vanderbilt Legends Collegiate. The Owensboro, Kentucky product also competed as an amateur at the 2020 U.S. Open and 2020 Masters Tournament.
Along with Augenstein, former Commodores Will Gordon, Luke List and Brandt Snedeker are also part of The American Express field. Tee times and pairings are expected to be announced Wednesday.
The American Express is scheduled to run Thursday-Sunday with live coverage on the Golf Channel.
