Vanderbilt opens Gator Invitational with five-shot lead

Vanderbilt rebounded on the second round of a 36-hole opening day at the Florida Gators Invitational and will take a five-shot lead into Sunday’s final round. Vanderbilt is the only team under par for 36 holes and leads Liberty by five shots.

The Commodores opened with a 2-over 282 at the par-70 Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville, Fla. It’s a tricky layout with small, ridged greens that puts a premium on short game. That left the team tied for third with host Florida.

In the afternoon round, senior Will Gordon set the pace with a 7-under 63 that included three birdies in his opening four holes and two birdies plus an eagle at No. 18 to end the day. The team dove to 5-under 275, the lowest score of any team for the day.

Gordon is tied for the individual lead at 7 under. North Florida’s Phillip Knowles is also on that number after posting a 63 in the morning round.

Both players were named to the Hogan Award Watch List earlier this week.

Vanderbilt, which is trying to defend its title at this event, is at 3 under for the tournament and ahead of Liberty at 2 over. South Florida is in solo third at 3 over.

Three more teams are also closely in the mix at 4 over. Those teams include Florida, West Virginia and North Florida.