East Carolina University
Puerto Rico Classic
ECU Concludes Play At Puerto Rico Classic
February 18, 2020 | Men's Golf
RIO GRANDE, PUERTO RICO – The East Carolina men's golf team finished the Puerto Rico Classic in 15th-place with a 54-hole total score of 30-over-par 894. The Pirates played with just a four-man roster as Tim Bunten was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to injury.
"Tim was unable to play after suffering a shoulder injury after the practice round which meant we wouldn't be able to throw out our worst score," ECU Head Coach Andrew Sapp said. "We have a couple of weeks off before our spring break trip to Myrtle Beach, so we are looking forward to getting back to work at home to get better."
 Senior Patrick Stephenson posted his second top 15 finish of the season, tying for 13th at 4-under-par 212. He shot 2-under par in rounds one and two before finishing the tournament with a par-72 on Tuesday. It was his lowest 54-holes score of the year.
 "Patrick had a terrific tournament against a very strong field," Sapp stated. "He was the highlight of an otherwise tough week.
 "Blake [Taylor] has a great first round and AJ [Beechler] had a great final round but we didn't find consistency besides Patrick."
 "A great tournament for Patrick. A very strong field for him to finish 13th in this week. He was the highlight to a tough week."
 Third-ranked Georgia Tech earned the team title in the event, posting a two stroke victory over No.2 Oklahoma. The Yellow Jackets finished the tournament at 32-under 832, while the Sooners came in at 30-under 834. No. 18 Georgia (-19). No. 50 Alabama (-16) and No. 23 Clemson (-9) rounded out the top-5.
 Sophomore A.J. Beechler recorded his lowest round of the week Tuesday firing a 1-under 71 on the final day to finish the tournament tied for 59th at 8-over 224 (75-78-71).
 Senior Blake Taylor opened the tournament with a 1-under 71 on Sunday, but shot 5-over and 6-over on Monday and Tuesday to finish at 10-over 226, tied for 61st. Sophomore Attie Giles tied for 69th at 16-over 232 (79-76-77).
The Pirates will return to the links March 9-10 at the General Hackler Championships at the Dunes Club in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
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Players Mentioned
