Gophers Struggle, Finish 13th at Puerto Rico Classic

  RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico – Despite an ace by freshman Charlie Duensing Tuesday at the 2015 Puerto Rico Classic, the University of Minnesota men’s golf team couldn’t make up any ground and finished the championship in 13th place at 894 at the Rio Mar River Course.

Sophomore Jose Mendez continues to carry the Gophers as he finished tied for 17th at 216 after shooting even par 72 during Tuesday’s final round.

Mendez struggled mid-round with four bogeys over six holes, but finished strong with three consecutive birdies. Mendez opened the tournament with a 74 Sunday, but rebounded with a 2-under par 70 during the second round as he notched his sixth top-20 finish of the season.

Freshman Riley Johnson, Fargo, N.D., and junior Jon DuToit, Chaska, Minn., both carded rounds of 1-over par 73 during Tuesday’s final round to finish the tournament tied for 49th at 226.

Duensing, Sandy, Utah, carded his first-career ace at the 178-yard 10th hole using a 7-iron, but finished the tournament tied for 64th after an 80 on the final day.

The University of Georgia led the championship every step of the way and finished with a 7-stroke victory at 852, while Georgia Tech finished second at 859.

The University of Alabama’s Dru Love and Virginia Tech’s Scott Vincent earned a share of medalist honors after the two finished at 7-under par 209.

The Gophers return to action March 26-28 at the U.S. Intercollegiate in Palo Alto, Calif.



2015 PUERTO RICO CLASSIC
RIO MAR RIVER COURSE
RIO GRANDE, PUERTO RICO
6,902 YARDS, PAR 72


FINAL TEAM RESULTS
1. Georgia, 280-281-291—852
2. Georgia Tech, 292-274-293—859
T3. Alabama, 285-297-283—865
T3. Oklahoma, 291-290-284—865
5. Purdue, 298-284-285—867
6. Clemson, 288-290-295—873
7. Michigan, 296-288-290—874
8. Virginia Tech, 287-300-290—877
9. North Carolina, 301-290-290—881
10. North Carolina State, 303-299-286—888
T11. Univ. of North Carolina, Greensboro, 298-294-297—889
T11. East Tennessee State, 299-293-297—889
13. MINNESOTA, 296-301-297—894
T14. Tulsa, 304-296-299—899
T14. Nebraska, 296-302-301—899


FINAL INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
T1. Dru Love, Alabama, 71-69-69—209
T1. Scott Vincent, Virginia Tech, 67-74-68—209
3. Billy Kennerly, Clemson, 70-70-70—210
T4. Robby Shelton, Alabama, 69-71-71—211
T4. Sepp Straka, Georgia, 69-70-72—211
T4. Lee McCoy, Georgia, 71-68-72—211
T7. Grant Hirschman, Oklahoma, 69-74-69—212
T7. Miller Capps, Clemson, 69-70-73—212
T7. Matt Mabrey, Tulsa, 71-74-67—212
10. Stuart Mcdonald, Purdue, 72-73-68—213

T17. JOSE MENDEZ, MINNESOTA, 74-70-72—216
T49. RILEY JOHNSON, MINNESOTA, 73-80-73—226
T49. JON DUTOIT, MINNESOTA, 76-77-73—226
T64. CHARLIE DUENSING, MINNESOTA, 73-78-80—231
T68. RUNAR ARNORSSON, MINNESOTA, 78-76-79—233