Sooners Head to Puerto Rico Classic

NORMAN — The No. 22 Oklahoma men's golf team continues its spring slate at the three-day, 54-hole Puerto Rico Classic in Rio Grande, P.R. The event, hosted by Purdue University, is slated for Feb. 22-24 (Sunday-Tuesday) at the 6,092-yard, par-72 River Course at the Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa.

The Sooners are coming off a third-place showing at the UTSA/Oak Hills Invitational, where they carded a 19-over 871. Senior Michael Gellerman tied for eighth place individually with a three-round 215 (+2).

The Puerto Rico Classic features a competitive field, with nine of the 15 teams ranked in the top 50 of the latest Golfweek/Sagarin poll.

“I think the guys are excited to get down there and swing in some sunshine and enjoy the warm weather,” sixth-year OU head coach Ryan Hybl said. “It will be fun for us to get to Puerto Rico and hopefully get off to a good start on Sunday. I think it's always so key for us to start well, and these guys do that much better the rest of the tournament whenever we do. Hopefully we can do that and keep it rolling.”

OU's lineup will include Gellerman, senior Charlie Saxon, junior Luke Kwon, sophomore Max McGreevy and freshman Grant Hirschman.

THE FIELD (GOLFWEEK/SAGARIN RANKINGS IN PARENTHESES)
Georgia Tech (6)
North Carolina (9)
Alabama (11)
Oklahoma (22)
Virginia Tech (28)
Clemson (30)
East Tennessee State (32)
Georgia (39)
North Carolina State (47)
Michigan
Minnesota
Nebraska
Purdue
Tulsa
UNC Greensboro

OU LINEUP
1. Michael Gellerman, Senior: Started spring season by tying for eighth place at UTSA/Oak Hills Invitational … Recorded a fifth-place showing at Nike Golf Collegiate Invitational … Recorded first career victory at 2014 Wyoming Cowboy Classic (6-under 204), becoming OU's first individual medalist since 2011.

3. Grant Hirschman, Freshman: Finished in career-best sixth place at Royals Oaks Intercollegiate with a 1-under 212 … Took a share of 15th place at Carmel Cup, his first collegiate event, with a 216 (E) … Claimed the 2014 Southeastern Amateur, one of the nation's top amateur events … Three-time TSSAA individual high school Division 2A state champion as a freshman, junior and senior (2010, 2012, 2013).

4. Luke Kwon, Junior: Tied for 22nd at Nike Golf Collegiate Invitational, a career best in OU team events … Opened spring season by tying for 29th at UTSA/Oak Hills Invitational … Played his first season at St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas … Was named a 2011 Division II honorable mention PING All-American.

2. Max McGreevy, Sophomore: Matched his career best with a tie for fourth place at Royal Oaks Intercollegiate … Also tied for fourth place at season-opening Carmel Cup with a 5-under 211 … Earned Big 12 Men's Golfer of the Month Honors for September 2013 after being highest finisher for Sooners in first two tournaments.

5. Charlie Saxon, Senior: Made his season debut at UTSA/Oak Hills Invitational (tied for 45th) after missing the fall with an injury … Tied for fourth place, his best in a team event, with a 206 (-4) at 2014 Wyoming Cowboy Classic … Won 2013 Lions Classic as an individual with a two-round 141 (+1).

THE COURSE
The 6,092-yard, par-72 River Course at the Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa serves as the location for the Puerto Rico Classic.

FORMAT
Fifty-four holes will be played over three days, with each round scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. CT with a shotgun start.

WEATHER FORECAST
Sunday: High of 83 degrees with winds from the east at 15-25 mph. Forty percent chance of showers early in the day.
Monday: Cloudy with showers (50 percent chance of rain) and a high of 83 degrees. Winds from the east at 10-20 mph.
Tuesday: Thirty percent chance for morning showers then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High of 85 degrees with winds from the east, southeast at 10-15 mph.

OU'S PUERTO RICO CLASSIC HISTORY
With a three-round 859 (-5), the Sooners tied for sixth at last year's Puerto Rico Classic. This year's apperance marks OU's sixth straight at the tournament and its 11th overall.

LIVE STATS
Live stats will be available at BirdieFire.com.