Vanderbilt and William Moll go low and win Frederica Cup

08 Sep 2022
by Sean Melia of AmateurGolf.com
see also: View results for The Frederica Cup, Frederica Golf Club, William Moll Rankings, William Moll Profile
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Vanderbilt wins Frederica Cup (Credit: Vanderbilt Golf)

The Vanderbilt Commodores started their season on the right foot with a team and individual championship in the Frederica Cup on St. Simon's Island, S.C.

It took a slew of birdies on the closing holes for Vanderbilt to secure the three shot victory over the Oklahoma Sooners. Four birdies and eight pars on the final two holes gave Vanderbilt the win after the Sooners slipped up and made two bogeys.

“It’s a new season. I know life makes you want to look backward and be proud of things that have happened before, but all we’ve talked about is starting this team off on a new journey and trying to fight the good fight,” Vanderbilt coach Scott Limbaugh said. “We knew it would take all six of us, the whole team. Just so proud."

This new journey was also interrupted by inclement weather. With three holes remaining, play was halted. The Commodores and Sooners were tied at that point. The Commodores were able to handle the adversity.

Limbaugh praised his entire group of players. The play six, count five format allowed Vanderbilt and Oklahoma to exhibit their depth.

“Super proud of Jansen Preston showing up today,” Limbaugh said. “Matthew Riedel, his last 36 holes, just played awesome. Cole Sherwood just keeps making big time plays in big time moments.”

Riedel bounced back after a first round 73 with rounds of 64 and 67 to help the Commodores' cause.

Texas Tech had a strong final day with a team score of 12 under to climb into third place.

On the individual side of the inaugural Frederica Cup, William Moll, Houston, Texas, backed up rounds of 64 and 65 with a 68 to hold off teammate Cole Sherwood, Austin, Texas, by a single shot. Sherwood's 64, which included four birdies on the back nine, helped him put pressure on Moll, but it wasn't enough as Moll finished at 19 under.

Moll made four straight birdies on hole Nos. 4-7. A birdie on the 15th hole proved pivotal, as it erased his bogey on the 10th hole.

“William Moll, from start to finish, he came in in good form, carried that momentum for 54 holes,” Limbaugh said. “Just to watch him have the courage to finish it off, to hit big-time shots under pressure was great to see.”

Ludvig Aberg's 65 was a big reason his Texas Tech Red Raiders moved up the team leaderboard, but it also moved him into third place. He is currently the top ranked amateur in the AGC/Golfweek World Amateur rankings.

Limbaugh knows this is a great way to start the season, but he knows it's a step in the process.

“We had an unbelievable spring season last year, but my message has been let’s look forward, let’s look forward to this year and it’s going to take all of us." he said. "We’ve got great competition. We’ve just got to keep pushing each other to the highest levels.”

The coach of the 2022 SEC champions knows that it takes more than just talent to continue winning.

“I want us to enjoy this one,” Limbaugh said. “I see a lot of areas we can improve on, some little things – I know the scoreboard says we shot this – but we know we can improve and there’s a bar that’s clearly been set at Vanderbilt and it’s our job to stay above that bar.”