CHARLESTON, S.C.—The tension is mounting at Daniel Island’s Ralston Creek Course as The Bryson Invitational heads into its decisive final round. After two days of fierce competition, the nation’s top collegiate golfers have set the stage for a thrilling finish in Charleston, South Carolina, with Vanderbilt, Kansas, Duke, Wake Forest, and South Carolina all jostling for the coveted team title. The tournament, hosted by the College of Charleston and named for the Matt Bryson Foundation, has delivered drama, standout performances, and a few surprises as teams from nine different athletic conferences vie for supremacy.
Vanderbilt University, ranked No. 3 nationally, sits atop the leaderboard with a team score of 558, a remarkable 18 under par after two rounds. The Commodores have demonstrated both firepower and resilience, holding off a hard-charging Kansas squad by just a single stroke. Coach Scott Limbaugh praised his team’s grit, stating, “I thought the guys did a good job battling until the end, which is something we take a lot of pride in. I didn’t think we had the same urgency and focus as we had yesterday, which led to some simple mistakes. Those are things we have control over and have to continue to learn from. Overall, it was a solid day with Ryan and Chase leading us and doing a great job lifting the team up with their play.”
Vanderbilt’s day was highlighted by a trio of eagles in round two. Senior Wells Williams and freshmen Michael Riebe and Jon Ed Steed each carded an eagle, with Williams and Steed going 2-under on the par-5 sixth hole, and Riebe finishing strong with an eagle on the par-5 eighteenth. Impressively, Riebe and Steed are two of only three golfers in the field to notch multiple eagles at Daniel Island this week. Junior Chase Nevins and sophomore Ryan Downes both posted 3-under 69s on Tuesday, with Nevins climbing to third place on the individual leaderboard at 7-under 137, just two shots off the pace. Downes and Williams are tied for eighth at 5-under 139, keeping Vanderbilt’s hopes alive for a second-straight team title and their third of the 2025-26 season.
Hot on Vanderbilt’s heels is Kansas, only one stroke behind at 559 (-17), followed closely by Duke at 561 (-15) and Wake Forest at 564 (-12). South Carolina rounds out the top five at 565 (-11) after a blistering 10-under team round on Tuesday. The field is stacked, with 12 of the 15 teams ranked in the top 100 nationally, representing conferences such as the ACC, American, Big XII, Big East, Big Ten, Coastal Athletic Conference, Conference USA, SEC, and Southern Conference. It’s a who’s who of college golf, and the leaderboard proves just how tight the margins are at this elite level.
Wake Forest, ranked No. 21, remains firmly in the hunt after two consecutive under-par rounds. Senior Jakob Melin has been instrumental, carding his second under-par round with a bogey-free front nine and an eagle on the fifth hole in round two. Melin enters the final round tied for eighth at 5-under, just four shots back of the individual leader and within striking distance of his first collegiate victory. His teammate, junior Kyle Haas, delivered a statement round with a 69 (-3), vaulting 15 spots up the leaderboard to join junior Tom Haberer in a tie for 17th at 3-under. Coach Haas, ever the motivator, emphasized the need for a fast start and sharper play on the closing stretch: “We have been making enough birdies, but today we had a couple of costly double bogeys. We’re not out of it by any means. The team will need to get off to a hot start tomorrow, which we will, and play a little bit better throughout holes 8 to 18 to have a chance. Another under par round as a team, so not the end of the world, but I know the guys are disappointed as well as we were playing early on in round two. Go Deacs!”
Charlotte’s men’s golf team, meanwhile, sits in 10th place at 570 (-6), showing flashes of brilliance in a stacked field. The 49ers’ lineup has featured strong performances from both veterans and newcomers. Daniel Boone, Jr. set the tone in round one, shooting under par and notching birdies on four of the first five holes, placing himself just two strokes off the individual lead at the outset. In round two, freshman Alex Bock found his stride, firing a 3-under round with just a single bogey on the 17th hole—his best performance yet in his first collegiate tournament. Frazer Jones contributed a 2-under 70, while Seb Cave shot 71 (-1) to bring his card to even par through two rounds. Boone, Jr. slipped a bit with a 2-over round, and Chase Cline posted an even-par effort on Tuesday.
Charlotte’s current individual standings after two rounds are as follows: Boone, Jr. is tied for 21st at 142 (-2), Bock and Jones share 24th at 143 (-1), Cave is tied for 37th at 144 (even), and Cline sits at 61st with 147 (+3). The 49ers have had to compete without Justin Matthews this week, as he’s representing Team Canada at the World Amateur Team Championships in Singapore. Still, the squad remains optimistic heading into Wednesday’s final 18 holes, with tee times for Charlotte’s players starting at 8:10 a.m. from hole 11.
The Bryson Invitational’s format is as challenging as it is prestigious, with the Ralston Creek Course stretching to 7,446 yards and playing as a par 72. The event’s competitive atmosphere is palpable, as teams not only chase the trophy but also look to build momentum heading into the heart of the collegiate golf season. For Vanderbilt, a win would mark their third team title of the year, a testament to their depth and consistency. For Wake Forest and Kansas, the final round offers a chance to topple the favorite and claim a marquee victory. And for teams like Charlotte, it’s an opportunity to make a statement against some of the best programs in the country.
As the sun rises over Daniel Island on Wednesday, all eyes will be on the leaders—and on the chasing pack, poised for a charge. With so much talent on display and only a handful of strokes separating the top teams, anything can happen over the final 18 holes. Will Vanderbilt hold their nerve and secure another title, or will a challenger emerge from the pack to steal the spotlight? The stage is set for a dramatic finish in Charleston, and the collegiate golf world is watching.
Stay tuned as The Bryson Invitational heads into its thrilling conclusion, with live scoring available for fans eager to catch every twist and turn from Daniel Island’s storied fairways. This one’s far from over, and with so many teams and individuals in contention, Wednesday promises to deliver the kind of high-stakes golf that makes college sports so captivating.
