NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- No. 1 Alabama got back in the win column on Sunday with a nine-shot victory at the Mason Rudolph Championship at the par 71, 7,100-yard Vanderbilt Legends Club.
The Crimson Tide shot 12-under-par 272 in the final round to overcome Vanderbilt's two-shot lead entering the day and win by nine strokes (5-under 847) for its sixth win of the season. The 272 was the lowest round of the tournament, nine shots better than Alabama's opening round and Mercer's final round.
The Commodores, led by former Alabama assistant coach Scott Limbaugh, shot 1-under 283 on Sunday to finish second at 4-over 856. Mercer and Louisville tied for third place at 13-over 865 while Georgia Southern rounded out the top five at 16-over 868. Florida State's Jack Maguire claimed medalist honors at 10-under 203, but the 12th-ranked Seminoles finished eighth at 35-over 887.
"I was really pleased with the round today," Alabama head coach Jay Seawell said. "That was a much needed back nine. Vanderbilt challenged us this weekend and I was proud of this team for rising up and playing Alabama golf. They really competed hard and did just a fantastic job."
Freshman Robby Shelton and senior Bobby Wyatt keyed the Alabama scoring barrage on Sunday with a pair of 4-under-par 67s. Shelton made the turn at 1-over, but blistered the back nine at 5-under par and finished tied for fifth at 1-under 212. Wyatt earned another top-10 finish with a bogey-free scorecard that included birdies on the final two holes to tie for ninth at 1-over 214.
Sophomore Tom Lovelady shot 68 in the final round to earn his second top 10 of the year with an eighth-place finish at even-par 213. He also scorched the backside with five birdies in his final eight holes. Trey Mullinax carded a 1-under 70 on Sunday to finish at 2-over 215 in a tie for 12th. Cory Whitsett's 72 was dropped from the team score Sunday, and he finished tied for 17th at 3-over 216.
Alabama is off until the start of the SEC championship on April 25-27 on the Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simon's Island, Ga. Alabama has won the past two SEC titles and will be looking for the fifth SEC men's golf crown in school history.
