EUGENE, Ore. – The Vanderbilt men’s golf maintained its team lead at the 2016 NCAA Championship on Sunday after carding a two-over par, 282, in their third round at the Eugene Country Club. The Commodores hold a two-shot advantage over Texas heading into the fourth and final round of stroke play Monday.
The Commodores were one of 15 teams from Sunday’s play to advance to a fourth round of stroke play on Monday, when an individual champion will be crown and the top eight teams will advance to match play, which begins on Tuesday. Other teams advancing include Texas, USC, LSU, Oregon, Arkansas, Arizona State, California, Oklahoma State, Illinois, Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida, Louisville and Oklahoma also advanced to the fourth
After a third-round 67 from junior Matthias Schwab, the junior from Rohrmoos, Austria, is in second place on the individual leader board. Schwab carded five birdies and two bogeys in his third round, with the birdies coming at 2, 3, 4, 16 and 18, and has a three-round total of 206 (71-68-67).
The Commodores also counted an even-par 70 from senior Carson Jacobs, a 72 from freshman Patrick Martin, and a pair of 73s from sophomore Theo Humphrey and freshman Will Gordon.
Humphrey is tied for 21st on the individual leader board with a total of 213 (67-73-73), while Gordon is next for the Commodores with a 215 (72-70-73), which ties him for 36th. Martin is in a tie for 48th with a 216 score (73-71-72), while Jacobs is in a tie for 97th with a score of 221 (80-71-70). Jacobs has responded well since his opening round of 80 on Friday with a one-over 71 on Saturday and an even-par 70 on Sunday.
“I really thought the guys showed a lot of competitive character out there today,” said Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh, who also coached the Commodores to a second-place stroke play finish in the 2015 NCAA Championship. “Carson really set the tone for us today with how he came out and competed and carried himself. His energy was infectious on the young guys. It’s so important having all five guys hanging in there the entire round. I am proud of all of them. Obviously, Matthias had an absolutely awesome round of golf that really lifted our team up. It was the toughest day by far with some very difficult hole locations and firm greens, so his round was really special.”
For the tournament, the Commodores are second in par three scoring (3.22 average), second in par four scoring (4.09 average), and fourth in pars overall (169).
Individually, Schwab trails Aaron Wise of Oregon by two shots, and leads Beau Hossler of Texas by one heading into the final round Monday. Schwab is third in par four scoring (3.94) and fourth in par three scoring (2.92). Gordon is also fourth in par three scoring.
The Commodores will play with Texas and USC on Monday beginning at 12:50 p.m. Pacific Time, 2:50 p.m. Central off of the first tee. Live coverage of the tournament begins at 4 p.m. Pacific time on the Golf Channel.
“We talked last night about staying patient all day and being fully committed to every shot,” said Limbaugh. “I think it is so important that as the tournament progresses, we keep our emotions in check. There is a lot of golf left to be played and we have to continue to have fun, focus on the right things and play Vanderbilt golf. ”
1. Vanderbilt – 283-280-282=845
2. Matthias Schwab – 71-68-67=206
T20. Theo Humphrey – 67-73-73=213
T36. Will Gordon – 72-70-73=215
T50. Patrick Martin – 73-71-72=216
T96. Carson Jacobs – 80-71-70=221
