Snedeker Second, Vanderbilt Fifth at Gator Invitational

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Brandt Snedeker rallied to finish second as he helped lead the Vanderbilt men's golf team to a fifth-place finish at the Gator Invitational played at the University of Florida Golf Course (Par 70, 6,701
yards) in Gainesville, Fla.

Snedeker, who entered the final day in a tie for ninth, fired a one-under-par 69 in the final round to climb to second with a one-over-par score of 211. His round of 69 tied for the best round of the day, but it left the senior just one shot short of Augusta State's Oliver Wilson, who claimed medalist honors with an even par score of 210. In six tournaments this year, Snedeker still has not finished worse than third, including winning three consecutive events in the fall.

As a team, Vanderbilt had an up-and-down tournament. The Commodores shot a 291 in the first round to finish fifth, but then slipped into a tie for ninth after shooting a 301 in the second round Saturday. Vanderbilt rebounded Sunday to record a round of 298, which was the third-best final round. That performance in the final 18 holes catapulted the Dores back up to a tie for fifth place with a three-round team score of 890.

In addition to Snedeker's strong play, the Commodores' consistency across the board is what has brought them success. That was true again in this tournament as senior Jason Dallas, sophomore Mark Donnell and sophomore Lance Goodson all finished tied for 49th place with 19-over-par scores of 229. And just one shot behind them was sophomore Ben McClung, who finished tied for 55th place with a 20-over-par 230.

Vanderbilt's next action comes March 17-18 at the Cleveland Golf Collegiate Championships in Aiken, S.C.

Teams
1. Augusta State 280-291-298=869 +29
2. Florida 296-281-295=872 +32
3. Purdue 283-297-302=882 +42
4. College of Charleston 293-292-300=885 +45
5. Vanderbilt 291-301-298=890 +50
Georgia Southern 288-291-311=890 +50
7. Georgia State 304-277-310=891 +51
8. Alabama 301-296-296=893 +53
9. UAB 305-288-303=896 +56
10. Florida State 299-293-305=897 +57
11. Kentucky 298-287-316=901 +61
12. LSU 294-288-320=902 +62
13. Ohio State 303-312-299=914 +74
14. North Florida 299-306-319=924 +84
15. South Florida 315-300-320=935 +95

Vanderbilt's Individuals
2 Brandt Snedeker 69-73-69=211 +1
T49 Jason Dallas 74-78-77=229 +19
T49 Mark Donnell 77-75-77=229 +19
T49 Lance Goodson 79-75-75=229 +19
T55 Ben McClung 71-80-79=230 +20

Vanderbilt Ninth After First Day at Gator Invitational
2/8/03

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Vanderbilt men's golf team is tied for ninth place after the first two rounds at the Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla. The tournament is being played at the University of Florida Golf Course (Par 70, 6,701 yards).

In their first action since this past fall, the Commodores posted a first-round team score of 11-over-par 291 to place fourth in the 15-team field. In the second round, Vanderbilt carded a 21-over-par team score of 301 to slip into a tie for ninth place heading into the final 18 holes Sunday.

Individually, senior Brandt Snedeker picked up where he left off in the fall, recording rounds of 69 and 73 to finish the first day tied for ninth with a two-over-par 142.

Next for Vanderbilt was sophomore Ben McClung, who fired rounds of 71 and 80 to finish tied for 44th with an 11-over-par 151. On his heels were senior Jason Dallas and sophomore Mark Donnell as they both finished the day tied for 52nd with 12-over-par scores of 152. Dallas put together rounds of 74 and 78, while Donnell carded rounds of 77- and 75. Rounding out the VU contingent was sophomore Lance Goodson, who finished tied for 61st with a 14-over-par 154 after shooting rounds of 79 and 75.

Vanderbilt wraps up the Gator Invitational Sunday with the final 18 holes. The teams are scheduled to begin the final round at 7 p.m. Central.

Teams
1. Augusta State 280-291=571 +11
2. Florida 296-281=577 +17
3. Georgia Southern 288-291=579 +19
4. Purdue 283-297=580 +20
5. Georgia State 304-277=581 +21
6. LSU 294-288=582 +22
7. College of Charleston 293-292=585 +25
Kentucky 298-287=585 +25
9. Vanderbilt 291-301=592 +32
Florida State 299-293=592 +32
11. UAB 305-288=593 +33
12. Alabama 301-296=597 +37
13. North Florida 299-306=605 +45
14. Ohio State 303-312=615 +55
South Florida 315-300=615 +55

Vanderbilt’s Individuals
T9 Brandt Snedeker 69-73=142 +2
T44 Ben McClung 71-80=151 +11
T52 Jason Dallas 74-78=152 +12
T52 Mark Donnell 77-75=152 +12
T61 Lance Goodson 79-75=154 +14