March 1, 2009
Complete Results in PDF Format
Rio Grande, Puerto Rico –
Freshman James White shot a 2-under-par 70 on Sunday to complete his first career top-10 finish, and 13th-ranked Georgia Tech held its position in fifth place following a final-round 5-under 283 at the Puerto Rico Classic golf tournament.
White, an Acworth, Ga., native playing in his fourth college tournament finished 54 holes at 8-under-par 208, with every round under par. He was four strokes off the pace of Georgia’s Hudson Swafford (67 Sunday) and Texas’ Dylan Fritelli (73), who tied for medalist honors at 12-under 204.
“James played extremely well. It’s the best I’ve ever seen him drive the ball,” said head coach Bruce Heppler. “It should be a big step forward for him to do that against these kinds of good players. This was one of the two most difficult driving courses, and he just hit driver after drive down the middle. He didn’t make any big putts to shoot those kinds of scores, but he just played smart, steady golf.”
Second-ranked Georgia, with three players finishing among the top five individuals, ran away with the team title, shooting a 15-under-par score of 273 Sunday for a tournament total of 826 (38-under-par). No. 8 Clemson was a distant second at 838 (26-under-par), No. 3 Oklahoma State third at 848 (16-under), No. 15 Texas fourth at 853 (11-under) and Tech fifth at 855 (9-under).
Seven of the nation’s top 15 teams were among the 15-team field for this event, played at the Westin Rio Mar Resort.
All-American Cameron Tringale recovered from a poor second round to shoot 70 Sunday and finish in a tie for 21st at 1-under 215. Sophomore John-Tyler Griffin shot even-par 72 Sunday to match Tringale’s tournament total, and senior David Dragoo carded a 71 for a 54-hole score of 217, tying for 27th.
Freshman Minghao Wang shot 84 and wound up in a tie for 69th place at 233.
PUERTO RICO CLASSICRio Grande, Puerto RicoFinal Results
TEAM STANDINGS 1 Georgia, U. of 283 270 273 826 -38 2 Clemson University 285 275 278 838 -26 3 Oklahoma State U. 286 282 280 848 -16 4 Texas, Univ. of 294 280 279 853 -11 5 Georgia Tech 280 292 283 855 -9 6 North Carolina State 281 286 291 858 -6 7 Florida, U. of 288 289 282 859 -5 8 Alabama, U. of 288 291 286 865 +1 9 East Tennessee St. 297 291 289 877 +13 Michigan, U. of 287 294 296 877 +13 11 Kent State 295 288 297 880 +16 12 Minnesota, Univ. of 296 295 290 881 +17 Northwestern 294 297 290 881 +17 14 Purdue University 292 299 293 884 +20 15 Virginia Tech 312 285 301 898 +34
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS 1 Hudson Swafford Georgia 70 67 67 204 -12 Dylan Fritelli Texas 67 64 73 204 -12 3 Russell Henley Georgia 72 67 67 206 -10 Brian Harman Georgia 69 71 66 206 -10 Ben Martin Clemson 71 69 66 206 -10 6 Billy Horschel Florida 71 68 69 208 -8 David May Clemson 68 70 70 208 -8 James White Ga. Tech 68 70 70 208 -8 9 Kyle Stanley Clemson 72 67 70 209 -7 10 Lance Lopez Texas 73 72 65 210 -6 Drew Weaver Va. Tech 76 68 66 210 -6
GEORGIA TECH SCORES T 6 James White 68 70 70 208 T 21 Cameron Tringale 70 75 70 215 T 21 J.T. Griffin 71 72 72 215 T 27 David Dragoo 71 75 71 217 T 69 Minghao Wang 74 75 84 233
