By: Greg Ward
The University of Alabama brought home another win as the third ranked Men’s Golf Team won the Puerto Rico Classic on Tuesday.The almost 7,000 yard, par-72 course seemed like a breeze to the Tide players, as they racked up birdies all over the beautiful River Course at the Rio Mar Country Club.
The Tide opened up the tournament strong, taking the lead on day one with a total overall round of 9-under-par (279). Oklahoma was right on their heels with a 8-under-par (280) and Clemson only two strokes back at 281. The first day the senior and leader of the team Scott Strohmeyer played lights out, Posting a 3-under-par round of 69. The Tide also had a freshmen, Tom Lovelady, step up to lead the team. Lovelady also posted a 3-under-par round of 69. After the first day of play, the Crimson Tide had three men atop the leader board for overall low of the day. Strohmeyer and Lovelady both tied for fifth place and Cory Whitsett, clinched a top ten spot, coming in at tenth with a round of 70.
The second day was not as good as the first day. The Crimson Tide ended the second day of play tied for first with the Oklahoma Sooners. Alabama shot 10-under-par (278) as a team and the Sooners shot 11-under-par (277). The day ended with SMU being in third, and the rivals Georgia and Georgia Tech taking fourth and fifth. Strohmeyer once again led the Tide on day two posting another round of 69. Sophomore Justin Thomas also had a great second day, posting a 3-under-par round of 69. Through the first 36 holes, Strohmeyer had eight birdies and two bogeys and seemed set to lead the Tide to a victory.
On the final day, Alabama was paired with the Sooners of Oklahoma and SMU. It was a back and forth battle all day, but the Tide pulled it out in the end. Alabama pulled away and ended up posting a 831 (33-under-par), for the entire tournament, and won by seven strokes. Oklahoma came up short in second place, with SMU rounding out the top three. Alabama junior Cory Whitsett made the course look like a piece of cake, posting a phenomenal final round of 66 (6-under-par). the round included seven birdies as Cory finished up the tournament with a three day score of 206 (10-under-par).
The Tide will hope to continue their run of dominance,with their next tournament coming in the second week of march. The Tide will travel West to Las Vegas to play in the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters at the Southern Highlands Golf Club.
