Feb. 22, 2010
Rio Grande, Puerto Rico –
John-Tyler Griffin rode a wave of low scores Monday with a 7-under-par 65, and 10th-ranked Georgia Tech posted an 8-under-par team total of 280 to maintain its fifth-place position after 36 holes at the Puerto Rico Classic.
James White, who added a 71 to his first-round 69, and Kyle Scott (70) also scored below par for the Yellow Jackets Monday, while Paul Haley carded a 74 to go with his first-round 70. Tech has a 36-hole total of 565, 11 under par.
The 65 for Griffin, a junior from Wilson, N.C., was the lowest round recorded by a Tech player this year. His 36-hole total of 135 (9-under-par) put him in fourth place individually, three shots behind Texas’ Cody Gribble (12-under 135 following a 65 of his own Monday).
“The pins were in good positions if you could get them in there close enough,” said Griffin of his round on the 6,902-yard, par 72 Rio Mar Resort River Course. “The weather was good early, and we got to play the tough holes in a calm breeze. I hit the ball really well today. The birdies I made today were inside of six feet.
The day continued what has been a consistently good year for Griffin, who has posted seven rounds in the 60s and 12 of par or better out of 15.
“I’ve just tried to relaxed a little bit. I haven’t taken it so seriously that I pull my hair out in rounds. Obviously, it’s important to play well, but I’ve just tried to take stress of myself.”
While Tech scored well, the teams ahead of the Jackets after the first round scored better. The Longhorns used four rounds in the 60s to shoot 269 (19-under-par) and claim the 36-hole lead at 30-under-par 546, eight shots ahead of first-round leader and top-ranked Oklahoma State, whose 10-under 279 Monday left it at 22-under 554. Clemson used four subpar rounds and an 11-under 278 Monday to remain third at 17-under 559, while Georgia (278 Monday) moved into fourth place at 12-under 564. The Jackets are another stroke back.
“Weather was pretty good today,” said head coach Bruce Heppler. “Over the years, the golf course has gotten short. There are a couple par 5s that could be played as par 4s, and it should be played as a par 70 for a really good player. If you shoot 8-under, you’re doing what you are supposed to. On this course, you can’t have an over-par round and stay with the leaders. We just have to keep showing up. Our guys are working hard.”
White’s 71 was his fifth subpar round in five on the River Course, and he is tied for 13th place individually at 4-under 140. Haley’s even-par 144 total is tied for 34th place, and Scott is tied for 40th at 2-over 146.
The 15 teams will play the final round under a shotgun start Tuesday morning.
PUERTO RICO CLASSICRio Mar Resort, River Course, Rio Grande, P.R.36-hole Results
TEAM STANDINGS Fin. School Scores 1 Texas 277 269 546 -30 2 Oklahoma State 275 279 554 -22 3 Clemson University 281 278 559 -17 4 Georgia, U. of 286 278 564 -12 5 Georgia Tech 285 280 565 -11 6 Kent State 286 281 567 -9 7 Purdue University 286 282 568 -8 Northwestern 290 278 568 -8 9 East Tennessee St. 284 287 571 -5 10 Ohio State Univ. 291 289 580 +4 11 Michigan, U. of 293 288 581 +5 12 Alabama, U. of 288 296 584 +8 13 Oklahoma 292 293 585 +9 14 Virginia Tech 290 300 590 +14 15 UNC Greensboro 294 298 592 +16
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Fin. Name School Scores 1 Cody Gribble Texas 67 65 132 -12 2 Harris English Georgia 69 64 133 -11 Kevin Tway Okla. St. 65 68 133 -11 4 John-Tyler Griffin Ga. Tech 70 65 135 -9 5 Bobby Hudson Texas 70 67 137 -7 Morgan Hoffmann Okla. St. 70 67 137 -7 7 Ben Martin Clemson 70 68 138 -6 David Lipsky N’western 68 70 138 -6 Dylan Frittelli Texas 69 69 138 -6 Colin Chapman UNCG 69 69 138 -6
GEORGIA TECH SCORES 4 John-Tyler Griffin 70 65 135 T13 James White 69 71 140 T34 Paul Haley 70 74 144 T40 Kyle Scott 76 70 146 T71 William Miller 77 78 155
