CARLSBAD, Calif. – The Vanderbilt men’s golf team advances to match play at the 2024 NCAA Men’s Golf Championships for the seventh time in program history after the Commodores finished stroke play in second place at 10-over 1,162.
Vanderbilt, who wore its Red, White, and Blue uniform in honor of Memorial Day on Monday, carded 1-over 289 in Round 4 to move past Virginia and end stroke play in second place. It is the third time over the last five NCAA Championships that the Commodores have advanced to match play, while it is their seventh match play appearance overall at the national championship.
“I’m just proud of the team,” said Vanderbilt men’s golf head coach Scott Limbaugh. “Today was a good day for our team. They looked strong, bold, and confident out there. I’m also really proud to see us finish well.”
The No. 2-seeded Dores take on No. 7-seed Ohio State in the quarterfinals on Tuesday at the 2024 NCAA Men’s Golf Championships. The match begins at 9:40 a.m. CT from the first tee on the North Course at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa.
Junior Gordon Sargent was chasing his second individual NCAA national title on Monday, as he was tied for the lead through 10 holes of play in Round 4. The lead would be short-lived, as the 2022 NCAA individual champion posted back-to-back bogeys on Holes 12 and 13 to put him a stroke off of first place.
Sargent carded even par over his next four holes. He went into the par-5 Hole 18 needing a birdie to force a playoff and was able to set himself with a 10-foot putt to finish the hole at 1-under. The All-American’s putt for the tie was on target, but lipped out at the back of the hole to leave Sargent in a tie for second place at 2-under 286.
“I think it’s pretty good, I’m definitely still learning the golf course,” said Sargent of his performance on Monday. “I’ve had some really good moments and some moments that have not been so good. But I feel like I’ve managed my game pretty well all week. I didn’t necessarily make many putts, which is tough. It’s hard to win when you don’t make putts.
“The key is adopting the mindset that the goal this week was not to win an individual national championship. It’s easy to get down right now and be disappointed. Obviously, I wanted to make that putt (on 18 for birdie to force a playoff), but as we’ve seen in the golf world this week golf is not everything. It’s definitely a good feeling to be playing golf tomorrow, and I…
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