Feb. 24, 2003
PALMER, P.R. – Led by a 1-under-par 71 from senior Troy Matteson, the Georgia Tech golf team moved into sixth place after the second round of play at the Puerto Rico Classic. The 54-hole tournament is being played at the 6,945-yard, par-72 River Course at the Rio Mar Country Club in Palmer, Puerto Rico.
The Yellow Jackets improved their team score by 12 strokes over the second 18 holes of play, finishing the second-round with a 1-over-par score of 289 to stand at 14-over-par, 301-289-590 after two rounds of competition. That total puts Tech 16 shots off the pace of team leader and ACC rival NC State, which is the only team under par for the event, as it is at 2-under-par 288-286-574 after 36 holes.
Matteson leads the Jacket individuals in the field, as he is one of three players tied for eighth place at even par, following his second-round 71 and has a two-day total of 73-71-144. That score is six shots behind individual leader Fernando Mechereffe of NC State, who is at 6-under-par, 69-69-138 after the second round.
Sophomore Chan Wongluekiet is the next Tech player in the field, as he carded an even-par 72 on Monday and moved into a seven-way tie for 21st place at 4-over-par, 76-72-148 after two rounds of competition. Fellow second-year performer Nicholas Thompson struggled on the second day of play, dropping into a tie for 28th place at 5-over-par, 73-76-149. Rookie Thomas Jordan is the fourth Yellow Jacket in the field, as he is one of five players tied for 39th place after a second-round score of even-par 72 to stand at 7-over-par, 79-72-151. Senior Adam Cranford rounds out the Tech contingent in the field, as he is part of a five-way tie for 61st at 81-74-155.
The Puerto Rico Classic will conclude on Tuesday with the final round of competition.
TEAM SCORES AFTER 36 HOLES1. NC State 288-286-5742. Minnesota 291-286-5773. Oklahoma State 291-289-5804. Clemson 293-293-5865. Texas 296-291-5876. Georgia Tech 301-289-5907. Florida 300-291-5918. Northwestern 300-297-5979. Georgia 305-293-59810. ETSU 300-301-60111. Oklahoma 316-288-60412. Duke 304-301-60513. Colorado 310-297-60714. Kent State 311-303-61415. Purdue 316-299-61516. Illinois 316-306-62217. Virginia 325-313-63818. Michigan 328-319-647
TOP-10 INDIVIDUALS 1. Fernando Mechereffe, NC State 69-69-138 2. Justin Walters, NC State 70-70-140 3. Stephen Lewton, NC State 70-71-141 4. Zack Robinson, Oklahoma State 72-70-142 5. Simon Nash, Minnesota 70-73-143 Gregg Jones, Clemson 74-69-143 Justin Smith, Minnesota 73-70-143 8. Troy Matteson, Georgia Tech 73-71-144 Jason Hartwick, Texas 75-69-144 Matt Anderson, Minnesota 73-71-144
GEORGIA TECH INDIVIDUALS T21. Chan Wongluekiet 76-72-148 T28. Nicholas Thompson 73-76-148 T39. Thomas Jordan 79-72-151 T61. Adam Cranford 81-74-155
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