## **Van Paris Shines at NCAA Men’s Golf Championships**
**CARLSBAD, Calif.** – Vanderbilt University’s very own **Jackson Van Paris** has sparked excitement at the 2025 NCAA Men’s Golf Championships, currently tied for **fourth place** after a stellar **4-under 68** performance during Friday’s first round.
### **Vanderbilt’s Journey Begins**
Ranked No. 16 and holding the **No. 13 seed** in the championship, the Commodores wrapped up their opening round at **6-over 294**, placing them in a tie for **19th** with San Diego. They are just one stroke shy of five teams tied for 14th, aiming to climb higher in the standings.
### **A Rocky Start, a Strong Finish**
Despite their initial nerves—starting from the **10th hole** and hitting a rough patch of **7-over** at the turn—the Commodores rallied on the back nine. The team pulled together to finish **1-under** on their final nine holes, showcasing resilience and determination.
#### **Coach Limbaugh’s Insight**
Vanderbilt’s head coach, **Scott Limbaugh**, commented on the pressure of the moment, stating, “There’s bound to be a bit of nervous energy at the national championship. Our guys had a slow start, but I was thrilled with the way they responded—especially Jackson.”
### **Van Paris Sets Records**
Jackson Van Paris didn’t just play well; he tied for the program’s **fourth-lowest 18-hole score** in NCAA Championship history with his remarkable performance. This achievement makes him one of only five Commodores, along with legends like **Jon Curran** and **Matthias Schwab**, to card a **4-under or lower** in a single round at the championships.
Despite finishing strong with **six birdies**, Van Paris’ day ended with a challenging bogey on the last two holes, but his score still positions him just **two strokes behind** the leader.
### **Fresh Faces in the Championship**
**Freshman Ryan Downes** also made waves in his NCAA Championship debut, finishing at **1-over 73**. After a difficult front nine, Downes bounced back to play even on the final nine, showing promising potential for the future of Vanderbilt golf.
### **Looking Ahead to Round 2**
As the tournament progresses, the pressure intensifies. **No. 6-ranked Oklahoma** leads the field with an impressive **8-under 280** in Round 1, while **Texas A&M’s Phichaksn Maichon** takes the top individual spot at **6-under 66**.
Vanderbilt’s next tee time is set for **10:20 a.m. CT** on Saturday, and fans can stay updated with live scoring by [clicking here.](https://scoreboard.clippd.com/tournaments/236552/scoring/team)
### **Coach Limbaugh’s Call to Action**
“Everyone battled today, but we need to be tougher moving forward,” Limbaugh stated. “Saturday is a pivotal morning for us. Our goal is to play with **conviction** and **courage**.”
### **Stay Connected with Vanderbilt Golf**
For the latest updates and exclusive behind-the-scenes content, follow the Vanderbilt men’s golf team on social media at [@VandyMGolf](https://www.instagram.com/vandymgolf/) on Instagram and [Vanderbilt Men’s Golf](https://twitter.com/VandyMGolf) on Twitter.
