News Summary
The Vanderbilt men’s golf team concluded their tournament at the NCAA Men’s Golf Championships in a tie for 13th place. Despite a solid performance, they fell short of qualifying for match play. Junior Wells Williams shone with a 5-under 67 in the final round, while freshman Ryan Downes and senior Jackson Van Paris also contributed strong scores. Head Coach Scott Limbaugh praised the team’s determination and highlighted the valuable lessons learned during the event, positioning them for future success.
Carlsbad, California – The No. 16-ranked Vanderbilt men’s golf team concluded the 2025 NCAA Men’s Golf Championships in a tie for 13th place. The team wrapped up the tournament with a total score of 18-over 1,170 after four rounds of play, finishing seven strokes shy of qualifying for match play.
Vanderbilt entered the championship as the No. 13 seed and performed consistently throughout the tournament. The Commodores carded a score of 3-over 291 for the second consecutive round while competing on the North Course at Omni La Costa Resort. The finishing score saw them tied with Brigham Young University (BYU), as both teams ended the tournament with the same total score. Vanderbilt’s performance, while commendable, fell short of their goal to advance further into match play.
Head Coach Scott Limbaugh expressed pride in his team’s determination and resilience. He highlighted the players’ ability to block out distractions and maintain focus throughout the tournament. This year’s competition marked Vanderbilt’s 14th appearance at the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship, with the program previously advancing to match play six times and reaching the semifinals in 2017, 2019, and 2022.
In a standout performance, junior Wells Williams excelled in the final round, shooting a remarkable 5-under 67. This score was the lowest of the day and is only the second-lowest 18-hole score compared to par in Vanderbilt’s program history at the NCAA Championships. Williams became the fourth player in the Commodore’s history to record a score of 5-under or lower in a single round during NCAA Championship play.
Freshman Ryan Downes, making his debut at the NCAA Championships, finished tied for 32nd place with a score of 3-over 291 after posting a 1-over 73 on the final day. Meanwhile, senior Jackson Van Paris concluded his collegiate career with a tie for 44th place and a total score of 5-over 293. Notably, Van Paris achieved a round score of 68 in the first round, tying for the fifth-lowest 18-hole score by a Vanderbilt golfer at the NCAA Championships. With his collegiate journey coming to an end, he earned professional status through the PGA TOUR University rankings, finishing in 5th place.
The championship saw the University of Texas host a competitive field featuring a total of 30 teams and six individual participants. The NCAA Championships format included 72 holes of stroke play, followed by match play. The No. 5-ranked Arizona State won the stroke play portion of the event, entering match play as the No. 1 seed. Individual medalist honors went to Michael La Sasso of Ole Miss, who finished with an impressive score of 11-under 277.
Vanderbilt’s performance at the NCAA Championships this year, although not resulting in match play, showcased the team’s potential and capabilities. Coach Limbaugh emphasized the valuable lessons learned during the tournament, setting a foundation for future competitions. With a legacy of strong performances, including victories in 2017 and 2022 and numerous advancements to the semifinals, the Commodores remain a formidable presence in collegiate golf.
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Additional Resources
- Vanderbilt Commodores: Season Comes to an End
- Wikipedia: Vanderbilt Commodores Men’s Golf
- Sports Illustrated: Vanderbilt Men Golf Strong Position After Second Round NCAA Regionals
- Google Search: NCAA Men’s Golf Championships
- Vanderbilt Commodores: Van Paris Leads the Dores
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Golf
- Vanderbilt Commodores: Dores Advance to Round 4
- Google News: Vanderbilt Golf
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