Liberty University
Mason Rudolph Championship
Flames in 4th Place after Day 1 at Mason Rudolph Championship
4/1/2022 8:35:13 PM | Men's Golf
No. 43 Liberty kept pace with the top-ranked teams during round one of the 2022 Mason Rudolph Championship on Friday.
Following the first 18 holes of play, the Flames find themselves in fourth place after a 7-under par 277 fired on the Vanderbilt Legends Club – South Course (par 71, 7,100 yards).
No. 3 and tournament host Vanderbilt used its local knowledge at their home course to fire an opening round 18-under par 266.
The 15-team field will return to the Vanderbilt Legends Club on Saturday for the middle round of the Mason Rudolph Championship. The Flames will be paired with golfers from Cincinnati and No. 33 Ohio State, going off the No. 1 tee at 10:20 a.m. CST on Saturday.
Round Recap – Liberty’s Starting Five:
- Jonathan Yaun – T4 4-under par 67 (67)
- Austin Barbin – T12 2-under par 69 (69)
- Austin Duncan – T21 1-under par 70 (70)
- Isaac Simmons – T31 even par 71 (71)
- 44 Kieran Vincent – T63 3-over par 74 (74)
- Connor Polender (Individual) – T12 2-under par 69 (69)
Field Reflections:
- Vanderbilt carded 15 birdies during its closing nine holes of play on Friday to open up a nine-stroke lead heading into Round 2 on Saturday.
- 20 Tennessee is nine shots back following a 9-under par 275 during round one.
- Middle Tennessee is in third place, one shot ahead of Liberty in third place following an 8-under par 276.
- Cincinnati (fifth place 6-under par 278) and No. 33 Ohio State (sixth place 2-under par 282) round out the under-par teams in the field.
- Vanderbilt’s Cole Sherwood, who is individually ranked No. 9 in the country, leads the 87-man field following a bogey-free round of 8-under par 63.
Birdies and Bogeys – Liberty Team Notes:
- Four of Liberty’s six golfers in the field finished the first round in red figures.
- Jonathan Yaun leads the way for Liberty and is tied for fourth place following a season-low round of 4-under par 67.
- Austin Duncan and Connor Polender, who is competing as an individual, are tied for 12th place following a 2-under par 69.
- Austin Duncan rounds out Liberty’s under-par golfers and is tied for 21st place following a 1-under par 70.
- Liberty ranked third in the field with 21 total birdies on Friday, finishing one birdie behind tournament leader Vanderbilt (22) and Cincinnati (22).
Course Information:
- Vanderbilt Legends Club – South Course (Franklin, Tenn.)
- Par 71, 7,100 yards
Following the Flames at the Mason Rudolph Championship:
- Live stats will be available at Golfstat.com
- Twitter @LibertyGolf
- Instagram @LibertyGolf
- Round 2 Tee Time: Saturday at 10:20 a.m./CST (No. 1 tee)
