Reband ties for first, Sooners shoot 30-under in Puerto Rico

Senior Garett Reband tied for first individually and the No. 1 Oklahoma men’s golf team finished in second place out of 15 teams at the Puerto Rico Classic. The three-day, 54-hole tournament was held at the par-72, 6,902-yard River Course at the Rio Mar Country Club in Rio Grande, P.R.

In the final round of their first spring tournament, the Sooners recorded a 5-under 283. OU finished with a three-day total of 30-under 834, just two strokes back of No. 3 Georgia Tech’s 832 (-32). No. 20 Georgia placed third, 11 shots behind the Sooners, while Alabama and No. 21 Clemson rounded out the top five.

“We picked up some great momentum this week down here even though we didn’t win the tournament,” said OU coach Ryan Hybl. “(Patrick) Welch had his best finish of his career, we had four guys competing for a championship coming down the stretch, Reband picked up his first college win.  This is a good start and now it’s time to get back to work before we head to Las Vegas for one of the biggest events of the year.”

Reband earned a share of his first collegiate win, tying for first with a three-round 9-under 207 after a final-round 2-under 70. This is Reband’s first collegiate win. The senior carded four birdies during Tuesday’s final round, posting a 70 (-2) for his third straight round under par.

Sophomore Patrick Welch had his best career finish tying for fourth, a shot back at -8 after a final round 71. Senior Quade Cummins also shot 71 and tied for sixth at -7.

Freshman Jake Holbrook tied for ninth at 6-under 210 after a 71. Senior Thomas Johnson shot 76 and tied for 37th at 217.

OU returns to action Feb. 29-March 3 at the Southern Highlands Collegiate in Las Vegas.