Vanderbilt with Mason Rudolph trophy
(Vanderbilt University Photo)
FRANKLIN, TN (April 3, 2016)--No. 5 Vanderbilt (847) overcame a late deficit to win their second consecutive and fourth Mason Rudolph Championship overall. No. 15 Florida (848) finished one back. It was the third straight win this spring for Vanderbilt and third title in four years at the Mason Rudolph on Vanderbilt Legends’ Club’s South Course.
Vanderbilt's other recent wins came at the Schenkel Invitational and the FarmLinks Collegiate Match Play.
The Commodores needed some final hole heroics to overcome the late deficit and boy did they ever respond. Vanderbilt got three birdies on the closing hole as junior Matthias Schwab (-3), freshmen Patrick Martin (+1) and Will Gordon (-1) delivered to help the 'Dores surge in front. They also received some help from Florida who was two-over par as a team on the final hole.
In the tournament Vanderbilt placed four players in the top 10. Schwab finished in third place, Gordon and senior Carson Jacobs (-1) placed T4. Right behind them was sophomore Theo Humphrey (E) in a tie for seventh and Martin T10.
"That was a lot of fun out there today,” said Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh. “I am so pleased with the competitive character the guys showed coming down the stretch. We knew going into the day that it would be tough and we would be pushed. Florida really played great, but we were one shot better this week. Patrick and Matthias both played really well today. As a team we had all five guys in it, which is what you need in a final round. Everyone made big shots coming down the stretch. Today's experience will help us down the road."
Despite not holding onto the team win Florida did take the one-two spots in the individual race. Freshman Sam Horsfield (-7) finished in the top spot, winning by two, thanks to a final round 5-under-par 66. Horsfield following rounds of 70-70 was strong all day and had just one bogey to go along with six birdies. Horsfield was able to create some separation with three straight birdies on holes 12-14. Today was the third win of his young career.
"The year Sam is putting together is incredible," said Florida head coach JC Deacon. "To shoot 66 in the final round today and play like he did was amazing. It was another big brick in the foundation that he's building. I'm really happy for him."
Another Florida freshman, Gordon Neale (-5), claimed second place with 54-hole totals of 70-68-70.
Rounding out the top five in the team standings are No. 11 Alabama (861), UAB (873) and Memphis (879).
-Vanderbilt University and University of Florida athletics contributed to this story
ABOUT THE Mason Rudolph Championship
54-hole men's college tournament hosted by
Vanderbilt
University. Team (best four scores out of five
players
each round) and individual competitions.
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