AGN Staff
First special invitation since 2000
Gordon Sargent plays college golf at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, but he grew up playing golf for Mountain Brook High School, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama.
In April, the Mountain Brook High grad will tee it up at The Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia.
Now a sophomore at Vanderbilt, Sargent accepted a special invitation to compete April 6-9 at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.
“There is simply not a greater honor in golf than to be invited to play in the Masters Tournament,” Vanderbilt head coach Scott Limbaugh said in a release. “I also believe this a huge day for college and amateur golf as Augusta National Golf Club has extended a special exemption to Gordon to play in this year’s Masters as the reigning NCAA champion.
“We are thrilled for Gordon and especially proud of the way he represents our university and golf program with high character and integrity in everything he does. This is certainly another great opportunity for him to showcase his talents on the grandest of stages.”
Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, announced Thursday that Gordon Sargent and Kazuki Higa have both accepted their invitations to compete in the 2023 Masters. Both players will be first-time tournament participants.
Elevating amateur golfers
“The Masters Tournament prioritizes opportunities to elevate both amateur and professional golf around the world,” Ridley said. “Thus, we have extended invitations to two deserving players not otherwise qualified. Whether on the international stage or at the elite amateur level, each player has showcased their talent in the past year. We look forward to hosting them at Augusta National in April.”
Sargent is the reigning NCAA Division I men’s individual champion. The 19-year-old birdied the first hole of a four-way playoff in May to win, becoming the first freshman since 2007 to claim the individual title.
Sargent is ranked No. 3 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and becomes the first amateur to accept a special invitation since Aaron Baddeley in 2000. A preseason first team All-American, Sargent also won the stroke play individual championship at the East Lake Cup in October.
Sargent won the 2020 Alabama State Amateur Championship and then repeated as champion in 2021.
Have a story idea or a news item to report to Alabama Golf News? Email bamagolfnews@gmail.com
Featured image courtesy of Alabama Golf Association
