Men’s Golf Finishes 5th at Valspar in Unique Finish

The Vanderbilt Men’s Golf Team finished with a +1 team total in the last 18 holes of the tournament, but it was their second 18 of the day.

Inclement weather moved into South Florida, and the Valspar Collegiate, which is scheduled as a three day event was moved to a two day event with 36 holes to be played on day 2.

According to GolfWeek, the final round conditions were brutal. Per my course write up, the wind can cause a ten shot swing. It didn’t for these elite college teams, but on average, it was close. Teams scored 8.67 shots worse in the third round than the second.

Wake Forest won the tournament with a -25, 827. They blew the doors off the competition making 70 birdies as a team.

Vanderbilt was 14 shots off the lead with a team total of -11. They were led by Patrick Martin, who placed T10 at -6. He tied with Texas Longhorn bomber and First Team All American in bad to the bone names, Cole Hammer.

John Augenstein and Will Gordon were the other two ‘Dores to finish below par. Auggie was -4 and Gordo was -1.

Gordon, the No. 9 ranked individual in the NCAA had a roller coaster first 27 holes making 7 bogeys (or others) and 7 birdies. But his final 27 leveled off and he played 21 holes of bogey free golf. After two bogeys in three holes, Gordon, I presume but wasn’t there to actually witness so this is all imagine and conjecture, went full Incredible Hulk, ripping his shirt as flexed, called his playing partners “puny humans,” and then railed off two birdies in a row before parring his last.

Vandy made a pile of pars, 171 total, giving them the most of any team. However, they only were 9th best in birdies, and they made no eagles.

Scoring in the final round was very difficult. The long day shown thru as every team but one, Georgia Tech, scored worse in their second 18 on Monday than their first.

The Men’s Team next tournament will be the Mason Rudolph, which they host, on April 5-7 at Vanderbilt Legends.