Golf Finishes Second in Puerto Rico

Feb. 19, 2013

	Team	1	2	3	Total
1.	Alabama	279	278	274	831
2.	Oklahoma	280	277	281	838
3.	SMU	287	278	283	848
4.	Georgia	290	280	282	852
5.	Georgia Tech	286	285	287	858

	OU Players	1	2	3	Total
T2.	W. Kropp	73	68	65	206
T5.	E. Castiello	68	69	72	209
T10.	A. Ancer	71	70	70	211
T31.	M. Schoolcraft	74	70	74	218
35.	B. Titsworth	68	76	75	219

OU Men's Golf Central

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NORMAN, Okla. -- The 42nd-ranked University of Oklahoma men's golf team placed second in the Puerto Rico Classic, seven shots behind fifth-ranked Alabama and 10 shots ahead of third-place SMU. The 54-hole tournament that concluded Tuesday was played at the 6,092-yard, par-72 Rio Mar Country Club's River Course in Rio Grande, P.R.

OU posted a third-round 281 (-7) to finish at 26 under par in the three-day tournament, which featured a competitive 15-team field with eight squads ranked in the Golfweek/Sagarin top 50, including the Sooners.

"This was a great week for us," OU head coach Ryan Hybl said. "We shot 7 under par today, and Alabama shot 14 under, so on paper it looks like they beat us pretty good. But we were actually neck and neck with them most of the tournament. We competed with one of the best teams in golf, which is good for us."

Hybl added that the performance was a complete team effort, and the players as a group are starting to believe they belong.

Senior Will Kropp carded a 7-under-par 65 in the final round, registering eight birdies and just one bogey to tie for the lowest score of the day among the 75 competitors. He finished the tournament in a tie for second place with a score of 206 (-10), two strokes out of first place. Kropp's third-round 65 marked his lowest round of the season, and his three-round 206 represented an OU season best.

"It was awesome to watch Will Kropp play golf today," Hybl said. "He probably putted better today than anyone I've had at Oklahoma. He played like an All-American today."

After starting the day in first place, junior Eduardo Castiello tied for fifth place with a three-round 209 (-7). Castiello balanced four bogeys with four birdies to conclude Tuesday's final round at even par.

Senior Abraham Ancer shot a 2-under-par 70 Tuesday to finish at 5 under for the tournament and in a tie for 10th place. Ancer finished below par in all three rounds.

Junior Michael Schoolcraft, who eagled the par-5 15th hole, shot a 74 (+2) Tuesday and finished with a three-round 218 (+2) to tie for 31st. Freshman Beau Titsworth carded a final-round 75 (+3) and placed 35th after finishing the tournament with a 3-over-par 219.

OU returns to action March 8 in the SH Collegiate Masters in Las Vegas, Nev.