There’s no better feeling in golf than being in “the zone.” The frustrations of bad shots, poor lie and bogeys are all worth it when your game catches fire and the ball feels like it’s on a string. For Ryan Downes, a first-year on No. 17 Vanderbilt Men’s Golf, “the zone” took over completely during the opening round of the Mason Rudolph Championship, when he tied the Commodores’ program record for lowest all-time 18-hole score in tournament play.
“I feel like I blacked out,” Downes told The Hustler. “I honestly don’t remember much, but I kept at it down the stretch, hit good iron shots and had a great round. I feel like I was really in my zone that day.”
His bogey-free, 10-under 61 was the lowest tournament score of his career, but Downes is no stranger to playing high-level golf. He grew up immersed in the sport, influenced by his father, Billy Downes, a former Nike Tour (now Korn Ferry Tour) professional and the current head pro at GreatHorse in Hampden, Massachusetts.
“Growing up with golf has been incredible, and I’ve just stuck with it and want to continue to do so,” Downes said.
Downes didn’t start out playing ultra-competitive golf. Instead, he eased into the sport, beginning with local tournaments around age 10 before working his way onto national junior tours like the AJGA in high school. The Longmeadow, Massachusetts, native quickly made a name for himself, winning back-to-back Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournaments in 2022 and 2023, along with the 2023 Justin Thomas Junior Championship.
His breakthrough came when he became the youngest-ever champion of the Massachusetts Amateur at age 17.
“The state amateur was a match play event,” Downes said. “I was able to get really hot and carry that momentum to hit some good shots under pressure and grab control of the match — kind of like my round at the Mason.”
While Massachusetts isn’t known as a super competitive high school golf scene, Downes’ talents stood out to college recruiters, and he was ranked the No. 12 recruit in the Class of 2024. He ultimately chose Vanderbilt for its reputation and team culture under head coach Scott Limbaugh.
“I felt like everyone at Vanderbilt was helping each other,” Downes said. “That’s why they’ve been so successful under [Limbaugh’s] tenure and why I wanted to be a part of and continue that culture.”
Downes arrived in Nashville with some momentum from a great summer, finishing 12th at the Massachusetts Open and qualifying for the 124th U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club. That said, cracking the starting lineup would be no easy task. At Vanderbilt, spots are earned through qualifier rounds — internal competitions where players battle for one of five starting spots.
“At first, I got nervous during qualifiers,” Downes said. “But it helps you get prepared for the tournaments, and I love competing with the guys. They really help us get better as a team.”
Through his play in these qualifiers, Downes earned a spot in the starting lineup — but more importantly, they helped him bond with the team. He credits seniors Jackson Van Paris and Gordon Sargent, who both have PGA Tour experience, as mentors during his transition to college golf.
“These upperclassmen have been so great to me right from the jump,” Downes said. “They’ve shared so much knowledge with me. Jackson [Van Paris] is really like a big brother, and [it’s the] same with Gordon [Sargent].”
Downes’ collegiate debut at the Inverness Invitational was a learning experience. He finished 43rd after shooting 9-over. He followed with two more over-par performances, but a trip to his favorite course, Peachtree Golf Club, helped him reset mentally heading into the spring.
“We played Peachtree on the way down to the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate,” Downes said. “I really loved that course, it was a great experience for me, and it’s definitely one of my favorite [courses] I’ve ever played.”
Playing as an individual at the Southwestern Invitational, Downes posted his best collegiate finish to date. After a 2-over 73 in round one, he rebounded with a 5-under total across the final 36 holes — highlighted by eight birdies and an eagle — to finish tied for fifth place.
“I’ve just got to stick to it, and keep getting better every day,” Downes said. “When I am mentally prepared and locked in, I play better.”
A few rough individual showings followed, but Downes rebounded with a solid 3-over week at the Valspar Collegiate. Then came the regular-season finale, the Mason Rudolph Championship, where Downes exploded onto the scene and found himself competing for the title.
“I was tense,” Downes said. “I had not really been in that position before, but I feel like I did a pretty good job keeping at it all weekend.”
After his record-setting 61 in Round One, Downes faced adversity in Round Two, going 2-over through nine holes, but bounced back with birdies on three of the final four to shoot 1-under. He closed the tournament with a 2-over 73 to finish at 9-under for the week, good for sixth place and SEC Freshman of the Week honors.
The Mason Rudolph Championship was by far the Commodores’ best performance of the year. They went 27-under through three days on their home course, good enough for third place. This has given the squad momentum that it hopes to bring into the upcoming SEC and NCAA Championships.
“Obviously, the season as a whole hasn’t gone exactly how we planned,” Downes said. “But at the Mason, we showed that we can compete with the best teams in the country. We believe our best golf is still ahead of us. I just hope we stick to our plan and make a strong postseason run.”
Looking ahead, Downes hopes to continue his success in top amateur events this summer, including the Northeast Amateur and Sunnehanna Amateur, which teammate Van Paris won in 2023. He’ll also aim to qualify again for the U.S. Amateur and reclaim the Massachusetts Amateur title, which will be played at his home course, GreatHorse, this July.
“Coach [Limbaugh] did a great job helping me get into some of those summer events,” Downes said. “But if I play well, hopefully I can get into even more high-quality tournaments.”
As he advances through his collegiate career, Downes has his long-term goals in mind. He hopes to use Vanderbilt’s platform and the PGA Tour University system to reach the professional ranks.
“I feel like I’m doing something right,” he said. “I want to make the PGA Tour and compete to be one of the best players in the world.”
While his journey on the West End is just beginning, Downes is already getting into “the zone” and hopes to continue making waves and breaking records.
