HONOLULU ? Colleges that supply the PGA Tour with the most players include Oklahoma State, UCLA, Texas and Arizona.

The University of Hartford never will be mistaken for a powerhouse, but no one could have imagined the Hawks with three players on tour — from the same team, no less.

“How about that?” said Jerry Kelly, the biggest star of the trio. “Not many other schools can say that, especially a northern school.”

Tim Petrovic, an All-American selection at Hartford, kept his card for the first time last year by finishing 86th on the money list, thanks to his runner-up finish in Memphis.

Rounding out the threesome is Patrick Sheehan, in his first year on the PGA Tour after finishing 12th on the Buy.com Tour money list.

Kelly, who defends his title this week in the Sony Open, split time playing hockey as a kid and chose Hartford because its golf team went to the NCAA championships the year.

“That was a major factor in me wanting to go, to play Division I golf and get to the NCAAs, and to play Division I hockey,” Kelly said. “I wasn’t that disappointed they dropped the hockey program when I saw how good the golf program was.”

It was good enough to produce three PGA Tour players.

“We’re definitely not a powerhouse,” Petrovic said Tuesday. “But we beat everyone in the Northeast pretty good.”

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Pride and country: Jeff Sluman doesn’t understand why any player would turn down a chance to play for his country.

Then again, Sluman never has had a chance.

The 45-year-old Sluman is one of four active players who has won a major but never played on a Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup team.

Told he might be the best player to have never played in a Cup, Sluman smiled.

“I guess that’s better than being the best player to never win a major,” the ’88 PGA champion said.

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Putting change: Rocco Mediate was the first player to win on the PGA Tour (Doral in 1991) using the long putter, which helped ease back pains.

Now Mediate is fit enough to switch back to a regular putter, and he isn’t complaining about the results.

He was the runner-up last week with a 23-under 269. He finished eight strokes behind Ernie Els, but he was only four back as he played the last hole.

“I was over that putt, kind of laughing to myself going, ‘Here I am in this situation the first week with this thing.’ It’s a good sign.”

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Stat of the week: Rich Beem was the only player at the Mercedes Championships who failed to break 70.

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Final word: “It was like a wedding invitation. It pretty much says I get to go to Augusta and play in the tournament.” — Jonathan Byrd, on receiving his invitation to the Masters.