Alabama leads at Puerto Rico Classic

By Andy Zunz, Golfweek Alabama is chasing its fifth straight win at the Puerto Rico Classic, and it's off to a great start. The Crimson Tide lead after the first round in Rio Grand, Puerto Rico. The team shot a 15-under 273 Sunday in the three-day, 54-hole tournament. Georgia (10-under), Georgia Tech (10-under), Purdue (7-under) and Michigan (3-under) round out the top five after the first day of play. The tournament features a host of top 50 teams in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings. The field includes Alabama (No. 1), Georgia (No. 6), Georgia Tech (No. 4), Purdue (No. 43), Michigan, Clemson (No. 31), Virginia Tech (No. 14), SMU (No. 32), Missouri (No. 49), Northwestern (No. 33), Oklahoma (No. 13), North Carolina (No. 48), North Carolina State, UNC Greensboro and East Tennessee State. The Crimson Tide have four players in the top 10, including: Cory Whitsett (T-2), Robby Shelton (T-2), Trey Mullinax (T-7) and Tom Lovelady (T-10). Purdue senior Adam Schenk leads the field through 18 holes after firing a 6-under 66. Alabama, which has won three straight times in Puerto Rico, is averaging rounds at 3.6 below par as a team this season.