ThThe ninth-ranked University of Minnesota men's golf team got off to a stellar spring season start as they completed the Puerto Rico Classic with a final round of 7-over 295 to tie for second place. The Golden Gophers, who maintained second throughout the event, tied with Clemson and Texas at 872 (+8). Oklahoma State won the tournament with a total of 2-under 862. The Classic was held at the par 72, 6,945-yard River Course at Westin Rio Mar Country Club in Rio Mar, P.R.

Four of Minnesota's five golfers finished in the top-20. Senior Simon Nash (Pullenvale, Australia/St. Joseph's) tied for ninth at 1-over 217 with a final round of 74 (+2). Fellow senior Wilhelm Schauman (Djursholm, Sweden/Victor Rydberg) fired a 71 to move up to 13th-place at 218 (+2). Junior Justin Smith (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) also placed 13th with a final round of 3-over 75, while senior Matt Anderson (Edina, Minn./Edina) totaled 219 (+3) for the tournament to tie for 17th-place. Junior David Morgan tied for 35th at 8-over 224.

The Golden Gopher golfers will next be in action Mar. 7-9 at the Callaway Golf Intercollegiate in Las Vegas, Nev.

Final Team Scores Puerto Rico Classic Par 72, 6,945-yards 1. Oklahoma State 291-289-282-862 (-2) 2. Minnesota 291-286-295-872 (+8) Clemson 293-293-286-872 (+8) Texas 296-291-285-872 (+8) 5. Florida 300-291-283-874 (+10) 6. N.C. State 288-286-301-875 (+11) 7. Georgia Tech 301-289-292-882 (+18) 8. Oklahoma 316-288-291-895 (+31) 9. East Tennessee St. 300-301-295-896 (+32) Northwestern 300-297-299-896 (+32) 11. Georgia 305-293-299-897 (+33) 12. Duke 304-301-299-904 (+40) 13. Colorado 310-297-300-907 (+43) 14. Kent State 311-303-295-909 (+45) 15. Purdue 316-299-299-914 (+50) 16. Illinois 316-306-306-928 (+64) 17. Virginia 325-313-311-949 (+85) 18. Michigan 328-319-313-960 (+96)
Golden Gopher Scores T9. Simon Nash 70-73-74-217 (+1) T13. Wilhelm Schauman 75-72-71-218 (+2) T13. Justin Smith 73-70-75-218 (+2) T17. Matt Anderson 73-71-75-219 (+3) T35. David Morgan 75-73-76-224 (+8)