Feb. 25, 2002
San Juan, P.R. -The Georgia Tech men’s golf team continued its torrid pace at the Puerto Rico Classic, recording its second-straight 13-under-par round, en route to an 18-stroke lead over second-place Clemson after 36 holes of play. The Yellow Jackets have won the last two editions of the 54-hole event, with this year’s being contested at Rio Mar Country Club’s par-72, 6,945-yard River Course layout in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Yellow Jackets matched their season-best round of 275 in the second round and stand at 26-under-par, 275-275-550 after 36 holes as Tech was one of only three teams to find red figures on the second day of competition. Clemson’s two-round total of 8-under-par, 279-289-568 is 18 strokes off the pace of the Jackets. Purdue joined the Jackets and Tigers as the only teams under par as it is in third place at 5-under-par, 293-278-571.
Tech was paced on the second day by junior Troy Matteson, who fired a season-low score of 7-under-par, 65 and is the tournament leader at 10-under-par, 69-65-134. Matteson leads Clemson’s Gregg Jones (69-69-138) by four shots entering the final round.
Senior Kris Mikkelsen, who is in third place after an even-par round of 72 on Monday, joins Matteson in the top 10. Mikkelsen was the tournament leader after 18 holes and an opening score of 5-under-par, 67, but now stands at 67-72-139.
The Yellow Jackets have a total of four players in the top four, as freshmen Chan Wongluekiet and Nick Thompson are both among five players tied for fourth place at 4-under-par 140. Wongluekiet carded a second-round score of 68 and is at 72-68-140. Thompson recorded his second-straight round of 70 and is at 70-70-140 after 36 holes. The final member of the Tech contingent in the field is senior Matt Weibring, who is one of eight players tied for 27th place at 2-over-par, 69-77-146.
The Puerto Rico Classic will conclude on Tuesday with the final round of play at the Rio Mar Country Club.
TEAM SCORES AFTER 36 HOLES1. Georgia Tech 275-275-5502. Clemson 279-289-5683. Purdue 293-278-5714. Florida 293-288-581 Minnesota 294-287-5816. East Tennessee State 295-288-5837. Colorado 289-295-5848. NC State 303-282-5859. Duke 296-292-58810. Texas 289-302-59111. Northwestern 299-294-593 Oklahoma 295-298-593 Georgia 293-300-59314. Virginia 299-303-60215. Kent State 308-295-603
TOP-10 INDIVIDUALS AND TECH PERFORMERS 1. Troy Matteson, Georgia Tech 69-65-134 2. Gregg Jones, Clemson 69-69-138 3. Kris Mikkelsen, Georgia Tech 67-72-139 4. Lee Williamson, Purdie 74-66-140 Chan Wongluekiet, Georgia Tech 72-68-140 Chris Mayson, Purdue 72-68-140 Nick Thompson, Georgia Tech 70-70-140 Justin Smith, Minnesota 70-70-140 9. Joe Liley, Colorado 69-72-141 John Klauk, Texas 69-72-141
GEORGIA TECH INDIVIDUALS T27. Matt Weibring, Georgia Tech 69-77-146
