SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — After a thrilling, come-from-behind win Tuesday morning in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships at Grayhawk Golf Club, Vanderbilt’s national title hopes ended in the semifinals.
The Commodores fell 3-1-1 to Texas hours after beating Texas Tech 3-2.
“I think that team that we were playing is so good that it’s just hard to flip multiple matches around,” Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh said. “Credit to them, they were the better team today. I hate that it happened. The way we’ve played, the boys have just been so awesome all spring long.”
Vandy could never get momentum on its side in the semifinals Tuesday afternoon. Texas took leads in most matchups early and held on with multiple holes to play.
William Moll was the lone Dore to claim a victory with a 1-up win over Parker Coody. Harrison Ott, a fifth-year senior in his last match as a Commodore, tied Mason Nome.
Gordon Sargent fell 4&3, Cole Sherwood lost 3&2 and Reid Davenport was defeated 4&3.
“Really proud of William and Harry,” Limbaugh said. “Proud of everybody, everybody battled. We just got beat.”
As Moll, Vandy’s first golfer to tee off in the semifinals, began play on the back nine Tuesday the Commodores already trailed 3-1-1 with Ott the lone Vandy golfer ahead in his match. When Davenport, Vandy’s last golfer off the tee in the semifinals, stepped off the ninth green the Commodores found themselves down just 3-2.
With Davenport still having six holes to go, the Dores still trailed 3-2 and the outlook began to look bleak. Sargent was the first to fall is his match with Cole Hammer losing 4&3.
Moll edged ahead 1-up going to the 17th tee while Ott had a 1-up lead heading to the 15th. Moll would go on to win 1-up to give the Commodores their first point.
But moments later Sherwood fell in his match and Travis Vick handed Davenport his loss.
The Longhorns advance to face Arizona State in the national championship Wednesday.
“They definitely put their signature on Vanderbilt golf. Best season we’ve ever had. They just showed everything they’re all about all spring long,” Limbaugh said of his team. “Sports goes this way. We wanted it. Really never stopped believing we could do it and then it ends. But this loss certainly won’t define us.”
Vanderbilt 3, Texas Tech 2
Davenport’s long par putt on 18 followed moments later by Sargent’s 3&1 win on 16 gave Vanderbilt a dramatic, come-from-behind win over Texas Tech on Tuesday morning in the semifinals.
Davenport claimed his match 1-up by sinking his shot to beat Calum Scott. Sargent closed out Board Skogen 3&1 on the 16th hole while the echos of celebratory cheers for Davenport wafted across the course.
Vanderbilt had found itself down 3-2 as Moll, Vandy’s first golfer, lined up his tee shot on 10 to start the trek down the back nine. When Sargent began play on the 10th hole the Commodores found themselves down 4-0-1.
Moments later Vandy found itself down 5-0.
But Sargent, Ott and Davenport each leveled-up on 12, 13 and 14, respectively, to cut the deficit to 2-0-3. Ott won the 14th to make it a 2-1-2 match and then Sargent won the 13th to tie the match at 2-2-1.
Ott and Sargent then each went 2 up in their respective matches while Moll fell 2&1. Ott closed out his match 3&2 to give the Commodores their first point.
That led to the dramatic finishes for Davenport and Sargent.
