Matthew Riedel leads No. 1 Vanderbilt to first-round lead at Cabo Collegiate

Vanderbilt’s Matthew Riedel shot a 3-under-par 68 and 2022 NCAA individual champion Gordon Sargent fired a 2-under 69 to propel the Commodores to a four-stroke lead over Old Miss with a team score of 4-under 280 after the first round of the Cabo Collegiate.

“Overall, it’s a great start,” said Vanderbilt coach Scott Limbaugh. “It’s going to be a marathon this week and it’s going to take some mentally tough dudes if you want to survive. But, that’s what ultimately is going to make you the best competitor and team you can be.”

Freshman Wells Williams added an even-par 71 and Cole Sherwood, the 2022 Cabo Collegiate individual champion, posted a 1-over 73.

“Matthew was steady all day long,” Limbaugh said. “I’m really proud of freshmen Wells Williams, on a golf course like this, to shoot even par in his third tournament ever. I thought Gordon (Sargent) did a great job of settling and finishing his round by birdieing 17 and 18, cashing in a couple of good putts.”

The Commodores have won their last two tournaments, The Hayt and the Watersound Invitational. Reidel feels the depth of the team contributes to their success.

“We’ve been playing a lot of good golf,” Riedel said. “Things at home are really competitive with all the guys back there and that’s what’s been keeping us sharp and on our A game. We’ve had a couple of good tournaments, and we are feeling good in tournament play.”

Ole Miss, who won the title in 2012, was led by senior Sarut Vongchaisit and freshman Patton Samuels, who each contributed 1 under 70s. Cameron Tankersley, also a freshman, posted an even par 71.

Mateo Fernandez De Oliveira of host Arkansas, the 2023 Latin America Amateur champion, carded seven birdies en route to the last day’s lowest round, a 4-under 67.