ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Vanderbilt survived a hard-fought match against Alabama and won 4-1 in the quarterfinals of the SEC Championships on Saturday to advance to the semifinals later Saturday afternoon at the Sea Island Golf Club.
The Commodores face Tennessee next. The Volunteers beat Mississippi State 3-2 in the quarterfinals.
Vandy got a 5 and 4 win from William Moll to take an early lead against Alabama. But the other four matchups came down to the 18th hole.
Cole Sherwood fell in his match when Nick Dunlap won 1-up. Matthew Riedel got that point back for Vandy with a 1-up win after JP Cave missed a short putt that would have sent that duo to an extra hole.
Reid Davenport was next to come up the ninth green (Vandy began the day on No. 10) and his 1-up lead held when he rolled a long putt from the fringe within inches of the hole. Thomas Ponder missed a birdie putt giving Davenport—and Vanderbilt—the victory.
Gordon Sargent was leading his match 1-up when Davenport’s result clinched the game.
Vanderbilt and Tennessee are scheduled to tee off at noon CT. Live scoring for the event can be found HERE.
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