CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico — The duo of Jackson Van Paris and Wells Williams both shot par or better to lead the Vanderbilt men’s golf team as play began at the Cabo Collegiate on Sunday.
Van Paris recorded a 1-under-par 70 while Williams posted a 71, leaving the two in a tie for 10th and 12th place, respectively, in the individual standings.
“I thought we played pretty solid for most of the day and I’m certainly proud of Jackson and Wells as they continue to play at a high level,” said Thomas F. Roush, M.D. and Family Vanderbilt Men’s Golf Head Coach Scott Limbaugh. “It was a good and fair test out there today and this course places high demands on all parts of your game. Unfortunately, as a team we let our round slip away as we turned back to the front nine. I think we will learn from today and be better tomorrow. We have high standards in how we finish rounds, I know all of our guys take a lot of pride in that.
“The only way is forward and we can all be better and be more consistent, and that starts with me. Every step you take is an opportunity to learn, grow, and get better. You don’t always get what you want, you get what you earn.”
Starting on the fifth hole of the Twin Dolphin Club, Van Paris birdied four of his first six holes to get as low as 3 under before going on to birdie Nos. 13 and 18 on the course’s back nine. Williams birdied both the ninth and 13th holes in his round as he sat even par or better the entire day.
As a team, the Commodores recorded a 12-over-par 296 total and are in 11th place in the team standings after 18 holes. Arizona State leads the 14-team field after shooting an 8-under-par 276, with Oklahoma State the only other program to finish the first round below par. The Sun Devils’ Preston Summerhays and Cowboys’ Preston Stout are atop the individual leaderboard after 18 holes as both shot a 4-under-par 67.
The second round of the tournament once again features a 9:30 a.m. CT shotgun start, with the Dores slated to open on holes 10-13. Live results will be available throughout the day at GolfStat.com.
“We have a long way to go in this tournament and tomorrow will be a great opportunity for us to play a complete round and see guys step up,” Limbaugh said. “I believe in this team, we have to keep moving forward together. We have to be tough enough to focus on what we want to do all day long and have an unbreakable spirit.”
Sherwood Strong in South America
Former Commodore Cole Sherwood wrapped up play Sunday at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Argentina Open by recording his best finish to date as a professional, tying for second place with an 18-under-par 262 total. Sherwood posted scores in the 60s on all four days of the tournament highlighted by an eagle and two birdies over his final four holes in the fourth round. For the week, he carded 22 birdies to go along with the three on the par-five 15th hole on Sunday. The result moved Sherwood up to 14th on the tour’s season points list.
