The Tech golf team competed in the Puerto Rico Classic golf tournament hosted by Purdue at the Westin Rio Mar Resort this past weekend. The Jackets began their second tournament of the spring with a No. 13 rank, and finished at fifth against a field that included seven of the nation’s top 15 teams, moving up to No. 12 nation-wide.
The Jackets finished the first round of the tournament in the lead at 280, but fell back to fifth place after a Saturday finish of 4-over-par, 292. Tech shot 5-under-par Sunday for 283.
Tech’s total of 9-under-par, 855 did not surmount the leading scores of the leaders, No. 2 Georgia and No. 8 Clemson, who managed 38-under-par, 826 and 22-under-par, 838 respectively.
Tech was led by freshman James White who made his first career top-10 finish. White started the tournament strong, scoring 2-under-par on Friday, and finished every round under par. White’s final score was 8-under-par 208, just four strokes behind leaders Hudson Swafford of Georgia and Dylan Fritelli of Texas, who tied for medalist honors with scores of 12-under-par 204. White tied for sixth place overall with David May of Clemson and Billy Horschel of Florida.
Tech’s second highest finish was a tie between All-American junior Cameron Tringale and sophomore John-Tyler Griffin. Tringale started the tournament with a score of 2-under-par, 70, but shot a disappointing second round of 75, recovering on Sunday with another 2-under-par, 70. Griffin went 1-under-par, 71 on Friday, followed by two rounds of even-par at 72. Tringale and Griffin closed the tournament in No. 21 place with a 1-under-par, 215.
Senior David Dragoo carded a 71 in the first round, followed by scores of 75 and 71 for a 54-hole score 1-over-par at 217. Dragoo placed No. 27 overall. Freshman Minghao Wang shot 12-over-par on Sunday and finished the tournament in the No. 69 spot with a final score of 233.
The Jackets will continue on to the Southern Highlands Collegiate tournament hosted by No. 21 University of Las Vegas the weekend of March 13, where they will again face the now No. 1 Georgia and No. 4 Clemson.