Feb. 25, 2003
PALMER, P.R. – Behind a closing round of 2-under-par 70 by senior Troy Matteson, the Georgia Tech golf team finished in seventh place at the Puerto Rico Classic. The 54-hole tournament was contested at the 6,945-yard, par-72 River Course at the Rio Mar Country Club in Palmer, Puerto Rico.
Matteson was the top performer for the Yellow Jackets throughout the week, as he was one of only seven players under par for the tournament, finishing at 2-under-par after 54 holes. His final-round 70 put him at 73-71-70-214 and tied for third with four other players. That score put Matteson three shots off the pace of co-medalists Justin Walters of NC State and Jason Hartwick of Texas, both of whom were at 5-under-par, with scores of 70-70-71-211 and 75-69-67-211 respectively.
As a team Tech was unable to improve its standing in the final round, finishing with a team score of 292 on Tuesday, to complete the tournament at 18-over-par, 301-289-292-882. The Jackets were well off the pace of team champion Oklahoma State, which fired a team round of 6-under-par, 282 and was the only team under par for the tournament, finishing at 2-under-par, 291-289-282-862.
Sophomore Nicholas Thompson was the next Tech individual in the field, as he tied with nine other players in 24th place at 6-over-par, 73-76-73-222. Jacket sophomore Chan Wongluekiet and rookie Thomas Jordan were both part of a tie for 41st place at 9-over-par, with their scores of 76-72-77-225 and 79-72-74-225 respectively. Senior Adam Cranford was the final member of the Tech contingent, as he was one of four players tied for 56th place at 81-74-75-230.
Georgia Tech will return to action on March 7-9, when it travels to Las Vegas, Nev., to compete in the Las Vegas Intercollegiate at the 7,381-yard, par-72 Southern Highlands Golf Club.
FINAL TEAM SCORES1. Oklahoma State 291-289-282-8622. Minnesota 291-286-295-872Clemson 293-293-286-872Texas 296-291-285-8725. Florida 300-291-283-8746. NC State 288-286-301-8757. Georgia Tech 301-289-292-8828. Oklahoma 316-288-291-8959. East Tennessee State 300-301-295-896Northwestern 300-297-299-89611. Georgia 305-293-299-89712. Duke 304-301-299-90413. Colorado 310-297-300-90714. Kent State 311-303-295-90915. Purdue 316-299-299-91416. Illinois 316-306-306-92817. Virginia 325-313-311-94918. Michigan 328-319-313-960
TOP-10 INDIVIDUALS 1. Justin Walters, NC State 70-70-71-211 Jason Hartwick, Texas 75-69-67-211 3. Hunter Mahan, Oklahoma State 71-76-67-214 Troy Matteson Georgia Tech 73-71-70-214 Gregg Jones, Clemson 74-69-71-214 Fernando Mechereffe, NC State 69-69-76-214 Zack Robinson, Oklahoma State 72-70-72-214 8. Chris Clarke, Oklahoma State 74-72-70-216 9. Four Players Tied at 217
GEORGIA TECH INDIVIDUALS T24. Nicholas Thompson 73-76-73-222 T41. Chan Wongluekiet 76-72-77-225 Thomas Jordan 79-72-74-225 T56. Adam Cranford 81-74-75-230
